diff --git a/contrib/devtools/github-merge.py b/contrib/devtools/github-merge.py
index 6854ecb..f7781cc 100755
--- a/contrib/devtools/github-merge.py
+++ b/contrib/devtools/github-merge.py
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ def main():
         # Run test command if configured.
         if testcmd:
             # Go up to the repository's root.
-            toplevel = subprocess.check_output([GIT,'rev-parse','--show-toplevel'])
+            toplevel = subprocess.check_output([GIT,'rev-parse','--show-toplevel']).strip()
             os.chdir(toplevel)
             if subprocess.call(testcmd,shell=True):
                 print("ERROR: Running %s failed." % testcmd,file=stderr)