diff --git a/hgext/histedit.py b/hgext/histedit.py
--- a/hgext/histedit.py
+++ b/hgext/histedit.py
@@ -1680,7 +1680,7 @@
             with repo.vfs(b'chistedit', b'w+') as fp:
                 for r in rules:
                     fp.write(r)
-                opts[b'commands'] = fp.name
+                opts['commands'] = fp.name
             return _texthistedit(ui, repo, *freeargs, **opts)
     except KeyboardInterrupt:
         pass