diff --git a/utils/he_ipv6/ra.py b/utils/he_ipv6/ra.py
index e9f14dd..2373271 100644
--- a/utils/he_ipv6/ra.py
+++ b/utils/he_ipv6/ra.py
@@ -65,9 +65,9 @@ class RASvc(object):
             logger.warning('Could not execute {0}; returned status {1}'.format(' '.join(cmd),
                                                                                cmd_exec.returncode))
             for i in ('stdout', 'stderr'):
-                s = getattr(cmd_exec, i).decode('utf-8')
-                if s.strip() != '':
-                    logger.warning('{0}: {1}'.format(i.upper(), s))
+                s = getattr(cmd_exec, i)
+                if s and s.decode('utf-8').strip() != '':
+                    logger.warning('{0}: {1}'.format(i.upper(), s.decode('utf-8')))
         return(None)
 
     def _get_manager(self):