diff --git a/rhodecode/lib/compat.py b/rhodecode/lib/compat.py
--- a/rhodecode/lib/compat.py
+++ b/rhodecode/lib/compat.py
@@ -407,6 +407,15 @@ except ImportError:
 
 
 #==============================================================================
+# bytes
+#==============================================================================
+if __py_version__ >= (2, 6):
+    _bytes = bytes
+else:
+    # in py2.6 bytes is a synonim for str
+    _bytes = str
+
+#==============================================================================
 # deque
 #==============================================================================
 
@@ -416,11 +425,11 @@ else:
     #need to implement our own deque with maxlen
     class deque(object):
 
-        def __init__(self, iterable=(), maxlen=-1):
+        def __init__(self, iterable=(), maxlen= -1):
             if not hasattr(self, 'data'):
                 self.left = self.right = 0
                 self.data = {}
-            self.maxlen = maxlen
+            self.maxlen = maxlen or -1
             self.extend(iterable)
 
         def append(self, x):
@@ -537,9 +546,9 @@ else:
 #==============================================================================
 
 if __py_version__ >= (2, 6):
-    from threading import Event
+    from threading import Event, Thread
 else:
-    from threading import _Verbose, Condition, Lock
+    from threading import _Verbose, Condition, Lock, Thread
 
     def Event(*args, **kwargs):
         return _Event(*args, **kwargs)
diff --git a/rhodecode/lib/subprocessio.py b/rhodecode/lib/subprocessio.py
--- a/rhodecode/lib/subprocessio.py
+++ b/rhodecode/lib/subprocessio.py
@@ -24,11 +24,10 @@ If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses
 '''
 import os
 import subprocess
-import threading
-from rhodecode.lib.compat import deque, Event
+from rhodecode.lib.compat import deque, Event, Thread, _bytes
 
 
-class StreamFeeder(threading.Thread):
+class StreamFeeder(Thread):
     """
     Normal writing into pipe-like is blocking once the buffer is filled.
     This thread allows a thread to seep data from a file-like into a pipe
@@ -39,9 +38,9 @@ class StreamFeeder(threading.Thread):
         super(StreamFeeder, self).__init__()
         self.daemon = True
         filelike = False
-        self.bytes = bytes()
-        if type(source) in (type(''), bytes, bytearray):  # string-like
-            self.bytes = bytes(source)
+        self.bytes = _bytes()
+        if type(source) in (type(''), _bytes, bytearray):  # string-like
+            self.bytes = _bytes(source)
         else:  # can be either file pointer or file-like
             if type(source) in (int, long):  # file pointer it is
                 ## converting file descriptor (int) stdin into file-like
@@ -77,7 +76,7 @@ class StreamFeeder(threading.Thread):
         return self.readiface
 
 
-class InputStreamChunker(threading.Thread):
+class InputStreamChunker(Thread):
     def __init__(self, source, target, buffer_size, chunk_size):
 
         super(InputStreamChunker, self).__init__()
@@ -121,6 +120,7 @@ class InputStreamChunker(threading.Threa
         da = self.data_added
         go = self.go
         b = s.read(cs)
+
         while b and go.is_set():
             if len(t) > ccm:
                 kr.clear()
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ class BufferedGenerator():
             self.worker.data_added.wait(0.2)
         if len(self.data):
             self.worker.keep_reading.set()
-            return bytes(self.data.popleft())
+            return _bytes(self.data.popleft())
         elif self.worker.EOF.is_set():
             raise StopIteration
 
diff --git a/rhodecode/tests/test_libs.py b/rhodecode/tests/test_libs.py
--- a/rhodecode/tests/test_libs.py
+++ b/rhodecode/tests/test_libs.py
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 #
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
-
+from __future__ import with_statement
 import unittest
 import datetime
 import hashlib