diff -r 127336ebfcfe lib_pypy/pyrepl/reader.py
--- a/lib_pypy/pyrepl/reader.py	Thu Apr 19 11:20:35 2018 +0300
+++ b/lib_pypy/pyrepl/reader.py	Thu Apr 19 11:46:43 2018 +0300
@@ -608,7 +608,7 @@
         self.console.push_char(char)
         self.handle1(0)
 
-    def readline(self, returns_unicode=False, startup_hook=None):
+    def readline(self, returns_unicode=True, startup_hook=None):
         """Read a line.  The implementation of this method also shows
         how to drive Reader if you want more control over the event
         loop."""