diff -r a736ab681b78 -r d2e1dcd4490d mercurial/crecord.py
--- a/mercurial/crecord.py	Thu Oct 08 15:35:44 2020 -0700
+++ b/mercurial/crecord.py	Thu Oct 08 13:37:31 2020 -0700
@@ -1808,7 +1808,7 @@
             try:
                 patch = self.ui.edit(patch.getvalue(), b"", action=b"diff")
             except error.Abort as exc:
-                self.errorstr = stringutil.forcebytestr(exc)
+                self.errorstr = exc.message
                 return None
             finally:
                 self.stdscr.clear()