diff --git a/gqrxHandler.py b/gqrxHandler.py
index 0aa0224..934d601 100644
--- a/gqrxHandler.py
+++ b/gqrxHandler.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ class GQRXHandler():
     def create_telnet_connection(self):
         print("Creating connection")
         tel_conn = Telnet(self.hostname, self.port)
-        tel_conn.read_until(bytes("Escape character is '^]'.", 'utf-8'))
+        tel_conn.read_until(b"Escape character is '^]'.")
 
         return tel_conn
 
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ class GQRXHandler():
     def change_mode(self, mode):
         tel_conn = self.create_telnet_connection()
         print(f"Changing mode to {mode}")
-        tel_conn.write(f"M {str(mode)}")
+        tel_conn.write(f"M {bytes(str(mode), 'utf-8')}")
         tel_conn.read_all()
         tel_conn.close()