--- a/hgext/fetch.py	Mon Oct 23 00:02:07 2017 +0530
+++ b/hgext/fetch.py	Mon Oct 23 00:02:28 2017 +0530
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
     exchange,
     hg,
     lock,
+    pycompat,
     registrar,
     util,
 )
@@ -60,6 +61,7 @@
     Returns 0 on success.
     '''
 
+    opts = pycompat.byteskwargs(opts)
     date = opts.get('date')
     if date:
         opts['date'] = util.parsedate(date)