diff --git a/tests/magtests.py b/tests/magtests.py
index 6414503..f14f47a 100755
--- a/tests/magtests.py
+++ b/tests/magtests.py
@@ -431,7 +431,7 @@ def kinit_user(testdir, kdcenv):
                                  stdin=subprocess.PIPE,
                                  stdout=logfile, stderr=logfile,
                                  env=testenv, preexec_fn=os.setsid)
-        kinit.communicate('%s\n' % USR_PWD)
+        kinit.communicate(('%s\n' % USR_PWD).encode("utf8"))
         kinit.wait()
         if kinit.returncode != 0:
             raise ValueError('kinit failed')
@@ -495,6 +495,7 @@ def test_spnego_auth(testdir, testenv, logfile):
     else:
         sys.stderr.write('SPNEGO No Auth: SUCCESS\n')
 
+
     return error_count
 
 
diff --git a/tests/t_spnego_proxy.py b/tests/t_spnego_proxy.py
index 6219721..c47558b 100755
--- a/tests/t_spnego_proxy.py
+++ b/tests/t_spnego_proxy.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ def getAuthToken(target):
     ctx = gssapi.SecurityContext(name=name, mech=spnego_mech)
     token = ctx.step()
 
-    return 'Negotiate %s' % b64encode(token)
+    return 'Negotiate %s' % b64encode(token).decode()
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':