diff --git a/Lib/uu.py b/Lib/uu.py
index ff1ffe4..97ad9b6 100755
--- a/Lib/uu.py
+++ b/Lib/uu.py
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@
     out_file.write('begin %o %s\n' % ((mode & 0o777),name))
     data = in_file.read(45)
     while len(data) > 0:
-        out_file.write(binascii.b2a_uu(data))
+        out_file.write(str(binascii.b2a_uu(data), "ascii"))
         data = in_file.read(45)
     out_file.write(' \nend\n')