diff --git a/lang/python/examples/howto/export-secret-keys.py b/lang/python/examples/howto/export-secret-keys.py
index 7203ded9..0f4d8ee4 100755
--- a/lang/python/examples/howto/export-secret-keys.py
+++ b/lang/python/examples/howto/export-secret-keys.py
@@ -90,7 +90,10 @@ else:
             process = subprocess.Popen(gpgconfcmd.split(),
                                        stdout=subprocess.PIPE)
             procom = process.communicate()
-            hd = procom[0].decode().strip()
+            if sys.version_info[0] == 2:
+                hd = procom[0].strip()
+            else:
+                hd = procom[0].decode().strip()
     gpgfile = "{0}/{1}.gpg".format(hd, keyfile)
     ascfile = "{0}/{1}.asc".format(hd, keyfile)
 
diff --git a/lang/python/examples/howto/groups.py b/lang/python/examples/howto/groups.py
index 154961b1..72135382 100644
--- a/lang/python/examples/howto/groups.py
+++ b/lang/python/examples/howto/groups.py
@@ -42,7 +42,10 @@ try:
 except:
     process = subprocess.Popen(gpgconfcmd.split(), stdout=subprocess.PIPE)
     procom = process.communicate()
-    lines = procom[0].decode().splitlines()
+    if sys.version_info[0] == 2:
+        lines = procom[0].splitlines()
+    else:
+        lines = procom[0].decode().splitlines()
 
 for i in range(len(lines)):
     if lines[i].startswith("group") is True: