diff --git a/examples/simple/client.py b/examples/simple/client.py
index aa591ca..a9a0eff 100644
--- a/examples/simple/client.py
+++ b/examples/simple/client.py
@@ -8,12 +8,14 @@
 Simple SSL client, using blocking I/O
 """
 
-from OpenSSL import SSL
+from OpenSSL import SSL, crypto
 import sys, os, select, socket
 
 def verify_cb(conn, cert, errnum, depth, ok):
     # This obviously has to be updated
-    print('Got certificate: %s' % cert.get_subject())
+    certsubject = crypto.X509Name(cert.get_subject())
+    commonname = certsubject.commonName
+    print('Got certificate: ' + commonname)
     return ok
 
 if len(sys.argv) < 3:
@@ -41,7 +43,7 @@
         break
     try:
         sock.send(line)
-        sys.stdout.write(sock.recv(1024))
+        sys.stdout.write(sock.recv(1024).decode('utf-8'))
         sys.stdout.flush()
     except SSL.Error:
         print('Connection died unexpectedly')
diff --git a/examples/simple/server.py b/examples/simple/server.py
index 97e18a7..f07cfc2 100644
--- a/examples/simple/server.py
+++ b/examples/simple/server.py
@@ -8,13 +8,15 @@
 Simple echo server, using nonblocking I/O
 """
 
-from OpenSSL import SSL
+from OpenSSL import SSL, crypto
 import sys, os, select, socket
 
 
 def verify_cb(conn, cert, errnum, depth, ok):
     # This obviously has to be updated
-    print('Got certificate: %s' % cert.get_subject())
+    certsubject = crypto.X509Name(cert.get_subject())
+    commonname = certsubject.commonName
+    print(('Got certificate: ' + commonname))
     return ok
 
 if len(sys.argv) < 2:
@@ -57,7 +59,7 @@
 
 while 1:
     try:
-        r, w, _ = select.select([server]+clients.keys(), writers.keys(), [])
+        r, w, _ = select.select([server] + list(clients.keys()), list(writers.keys()), [])
     except:
         break
 
@@ -69,7 +71,7 @@
 
         else:
             try:
-                ret = cli.recv(1024)
+                ret = cli.recv(1024).decode('utf-8')
             except (SSL.WantReadError, SSL.WantWriteError, SSL.WantX509LookupError):
                 pass
             except SSL.ZeroReturnError: