diff --git a/beat/web/dataformats/tests/tests_api.py b/beat/web/dataformats/tests/tests_api.py
index 008b727295cd8280cde244ba7bae54e32d525ddd..cda175bef9058e336284f6b28de603342f170ca2 100644
--- a/beat/web/dataformats/tests/tests_api.py
+++ b/beat/web/dataformats/tests/tests_api.py
@@ -572,7 +572,7 @@ class DataFormatUpdate(DataFormatsAPIBase):
         self.checkResponse(response, 204)
 
         dataformat = DataFormat.objects.get(author__username='johndoe', name='format_private')
-        self.assertEqual(dataformat.description, 'blah')
+        self.assertEqual(dataformat.description, b'blah')
 
         storage = Storage(settings.PREFIX,
                           dataformat.fullname())
@@ -592,7 +592,7 @@ class DataFormatUpdate(DataFormatsAPIBase):
         self.checkResponse(response, 204)
 
         dataformat = DataFormat.objects.get(author__username='johndoe', name='format1')
-        self.assertEqual(dataformat.description, 'blah')
+        self.assertEqual(dataformat.description, b'blah')
 
 
     def test_successfull_update_of_declaration_only(self):