diff --git a/vcsserver/hook_utils/__init__.py b/vcsserver/hook_utils/__init__.py
--- a/vcsserver/hook_utils/__init__.py
+++ b/vcsserver/hook_utils/__init__.py
@@ -168,8 +168,8 @@ def check_rhodecode_hook(hook_path):
     return False
 
 
-def read_hook_content(hook_path):
-    content = ''
+def read_hook_content(hook_path) -> bytes:
+    content = b''
     if os.path.isfile(hook_path):
         with open(hook_path, 'rb') as f:
             content = f.read()
diff --git a/vcsserver/http_main.py b/vcsserver/http_main.py
--- a/vcsserver/http_main.py
+++ b/vcsserver/http_main.py
@@ -447,7 +447,7 @@ class HTTPApplication(object):
 
     def status_view(self, request):
         import vcsserver
-        return {'status': 'OK', 'vcsserver_version': vcsserver.__version__,
+        return {'status': 'OK', 'vcsserver_version': str(vcsserver.__version__),
                 'pid': os.getpid()}
 
     def service_view(self, request):