diff --git a/contrib/python3-whitelist b/contrib/python3-whitelist
--- a/contrib/python3-whitelist
+++ b/contrib/python3-whitelist
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 test-abort-checkin.t
 test-absorb-filefixupstate.py
 test-absorb-phase.t
+test-absorb-rename.t
 test-absorb-strip.t
+test-absorb.t
 test-add.t
 test-addremove-similar.t
 test-addremove.t
diff --git a/hgext/absorb.py b/hgext/absorb.py
--- a/hgext/absorb.py
+++ b/hgext/absorb.py
@@ -972,6 +972,7 @@ def absorbcmd(ui, repo, *pats, **opts):
 
     Returns 0 on success, 1 if all chunks were ignored and nothing amended.
     """
+    opts = pycompat.byteskwargs(opts)
     state = absorb(ui, repo, pats=pats, opts=opts)
     if sum(s[0] for s in state.chunkstats.values()) == 0:
         return 1