diff --git a/src/west/commands.py b/src/west/commands.py
index 8ffb7dfc..b1fe8b91 100644
--- a/src/west/commands.py
+++ b/src/west/commands.py
@@ -321,7 +321,7 @@ def run_subprocess(self, args, **kwargs):
         the call at Verbosity.DBG_MORE level.'''
 
         self._log_subproc(args, **kwargs)
-        return subprocess.run(args, **kwargs)
+        return subprocess.run(args, errors='backslashreplace', **kwargs)
 
     def die_if_no_git(self):
         '''Abort if git is not installed on PATH.