@ -669,7 +669,7 @@ def apply_mode_spec(spec, mode):
Given a symbolic file mode change specification in the style of chmod(1)
`spec`, apply changes in the specification to the numeric file mode `mode`.
"""
for clause in spec.split(','):
for clause in mitogen.core.to_text(spec).split(','):
match = CHMOD_CLAUSE_PAT.match(clause)
who, op, perms = match.groups()
for ch in who or 'a':