diff --git a/mercurial/templatekw.py b/mercurial/templatekw.py
--- a/mercurial/templatekw.py
+++ b/mercurial/templatekw.py
@@ -606,6 +606,7 @@
     #
     # This function will be replaced by templates fragments when we will have
     # the verbosity templatekw available.
+    args = pycompat.byteskwargs(args)
     succsandmarkers = showsuccsandmarkers(**args)
 
     ui = args['ui']