diff --git a/client/csocket.py b/client/csocket.py
index 3963bbe5..283d6357 100644
--- a/client/csocket.py
+++ b/client/csocket.py
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ import socket, sys
 class CSocket:
 	
 	if sys.version_info >= (3,):
-		END_STRING = b"<F2B_END_COMMAND>"
+		END_STRING = bytes("<F2B_END_COMMAND>", encoding='ascii')
 	else:
 		END_STRING = "<F2B_END_COMMAND>"
 	
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ class CSocket:
 	#@staticmethod
 	def receive(sock):
 		if sys.version_info >= (3,):
-			msg = b''
+			msg = bytes("", encoding='ascii')
 		else:
 			msg = ''
 		while msg.rfind(CSocket.END_STRING) == -1:
diff --git a/server/asyncserver.py b/server/asyncserver.py
index 0e06a790..a671d877 100644
--- a/server/asyncserver.py
+++ b/server/asyncserver.py
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ logSys = logging.getLogger("fail2ban.server")
 class RequestHandler(asynchat.async_chat):
 	
 	if sys.version_info >= (3,):
-		END_STRING = b"<F2B_END_COMMAND>"
+		END_STRING = bytes("<F2B_END_COMMAND>", encoding="ascii")
 	else:
 		END_STRING = "<F2B_END_COMMAND>"
 
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ class RequestHandler(asynchat.async_chat):
 	def found_terminator(self):
 		# Joins the buffer items.
 		if sys.version_info >= (3,):
-			message = loads(b"".join(self.__buffer))
+			message = loads(bytes("", encoding="ascii").join(self.__buffer))
 		else:
 			message = loads("".join(self.__buffer))
 		# Gives the message to the transmitter.