diff --git a/changelog/61966.fixed b/changelog/61966.fixed
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e772fcf33af
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog/61966.fixed
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Fixed listing minions on OpenBSD
diff --git a/salt/utils/network.py b/salt/utils/network.py
index 6cc73bad44f..55b360411ab 100644
--- a/salt/utils/network.py
+++ b/salt/utils/network.py
@@ -1928,11 +1928,11 @@ def _openbsd_remotes_on(port, which_end):
         data = subprocess.check_output(
             ["netstat", "-nf", "inet"]
         )  # pylint: disable=minimum-python-version
-    except subprocess.CalledProcessError:
-        log.error("Failed netstat")
+    except subprocess.CalledProcessError as exc:
+        log.error('Failed "netstat" with returncode = %s', exc.returncode)
         raise
 
-    lines = data.split("\n")
+    lines = salt.utils.stringutils.to_str(data).split("\n")
     for line in lines:
         if "ESTABLISHED" not in line:
             continue
diff --git a/tests/unit/utils/test_network.py b/tests/unit/utils/test_network.py
index 3270fcbc2ab..f7d39729300 100644
--- a/tests/unit/utils/test_network.py
+++ b/tests/unit/utils/test_network.py
@@ -111,6 +111,12 @@ USER     COMMAND    PID   FD PROTO  LOCAL ADDRESS    FOREIGN ADDRESS
 salt-master python2.781106 35 tcp4  127.0.0.1:61115  127.0.0.1:4506
 """
 
+OPENBSD_NETSTAT = """\
+Active Internet connections
+Proto   Recv-Q Send-Q  Local Address          Foreign Address        (state)
+tcp          0      0  127.0.0.1.61115        127.0.0.1.4506         ESTABLISHED
+"""
+
 LINUX_NETLINK_SS_OUTPUT = """\
 State       Recv-Q Send-Q                                                            Local Address:Port                                                                           Peer Address:Port
 TIME-WAIT   0      0                                                                         [::1]:8009                                                                                  [::1]:40368
@@ -647,6 +653,20 @@ class NetworkTestCase(TestCase):
             remotes = network._netlink_tool_remote_on("4505", "remote_port")
             self.assertEqual(remotes, {"127.0.0.1", "::ffff:1.2.3.4"})
 
+    def test_openbsd_remotes_on(self):
+        with patch("subprocess.check_output", return_value=OPENBSD_NETSTAT):
+            remotes = network._openbsd_remotes_on("4506", "remote")
+            self.assertEqual(remotes, {"127.0.0.1"})
+
+    def test_openbsd_remotes_on_issue_61966(self):
+        """
+        Test that the command output is correctly converted to string before
+        treating it as such
+        """
+        with patch("subprocess.check_output", return_value=OPENBSD_NETSTAT.encode()):
+            remotes = network._openbsd_remotes_on("4506", "remote")
+            self.assertEqual(remotes, {"127.0.0.1"})
+
     def test_generate_minion_id_distinct(self):
         """
         Test if minion IDs are distinct in the pool.