diff --git a/cryptography/bindings/openssl/api.py b/cryptography/bindings/openssl/api.py
index 87ed38f..2c8fae3 100644
--- a/cryptography/bindings/openssl/api.py
+++ b/cryptography/bindings/openssl/api.py
@@ -55,9 +55,12 @@
         int EVP_CIPHER_block_size(const EVP_CIPHER *);
         """)
 
-    """ Friendly string name of linked OpenSSL. """
     def openssl_version_text(self):
-        return self._ffi.string(api._lib.OPENSSL_VERSION_TEXT)
+        """ Friendly string name of linked OpenSSL.
+
+        Example: OpenSSL 1.0.1e Feb 11, 2013
+        """
+        return self._ffi.string(api._lib.OPENSSL_VERSION_TEXT).decode("ascii")
 
     def create_block_cipher_context(self, cipher, mode):
         ctx = self._ffi.new("EVP_CIPHER_CTX *")
diff --git a/tests/bindings/test_openssl.py b/tests/bindings/test_openssl.py
index 8704d93..db71e32 100644
--- a/tests/bindings/test_openssl.py
+++ b/tests/bindings/test_openssl.py
@@ -19,4 +19,11 @@
         assert api
 
     def test_openssl_version_text(self):
+        """ This test checks the value of OPENSSL_VERSION_TEXT.
+
+        Unfortunately, this define does not appear to have a
+        formal content definition, so for now we'll test to see
+        if it starts with OpenSSL as that appears to be true
+        for every OpenSSL.
+        """
         assert api.openssl_version_text().find("OpenSSL") == 0