diff --git a/insights/core/spec_factory.py b/insights/core/spec_factory.py
index 9b1de9ad07..955ed2a20a 100644
--- a/insights/core/spec_factory.py
+++ b/insights/core/spec_factory.py
@@ -334,7 +334,7 @@ def __init__(self, cmd, ctx, root="insights_commands", save_as=None,
                  args=None, split=True, keep_rc=False, ds=None, timeout=None,
                  inherit_env=None, override_env=None, signum=None, cleaner=None):
         super(CommandOutputProvider, self).__init__()
-        self.cmd = cmd
+        self.cmd = cmd if six.PY3 else str(cmd)
         self.root = root
         self.save_as = save_as
         self.ctx = ctx