diff --git a/scripts/mk_util.py b/scripts/mk_util.py
index 225a38c04..66ccb7b65 100644
--- a/scripts/mk_util.py
+++ b/scripts/mk_util.py
@@ -90,7 +90,12 @@ FPMATH="Default"
 FPMATH_FLAGS="-mfpmath=sse -msse -msse2"
 
 def check_output(cmd):
-    return (subprocess.Popen(cmd, stdout=subprocess.PIPE).communicate()[0]).decode(sys.stdout.encoding).rstrip('\r\n')
+    out = subprocess.Popen(cmd, stdout=subprocess.PIPE).communicate()[0]
+    if out != None:
+        enc = sys.stdout.encoding
+        if enc != None: out.decode(enc).rstrip('\r\n')
+        else: out.rstrip('\r\n')
+    else: ""
 
 def git_hash():
     try:
diff --git a/scripts/update_api.py b/scripts/update_api.py
index 1ad85d228..85ee296e3 100644
--- a/scripts/update_api.py
+++ b/scripts/update_api.py
@@ -96,7 +96,11 @@ if sys.version < '3':
      return s
 else:
   def _to_pystr(s):
-     return s.decode(sys.stdout.encoding)
+     if s != None:
+        enc = sys.stdout.encoding
+        if enc != None: s.decode(enc)
+        else: s
+     else: ""
 
 def init(PATH):
   global _lib