diff --git a/mercurial/commands.py b/mercurial/commands.py
--- a/mercurial/commands.py
+++ b/mercurial/commands.py
@@ -4720,6 +4720,7 @@ def status(ui, repo, *pats, **opts):
     Returns 0 on success.
     """
 
+    opts = pycompat.byteskwargs(opts)
     revs = opts.get('rev')
     change = opts.get('change')