diff --git a/httpsig.py b/httpsig.py
index 3ae13d0e..85847267 100644
--- a/httpsig.py
+++ b/httpsig.py
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ def verifyPostHeaders(httpPrefix: str,publicKeyPem: str,headers: dict, \
                 f'(request-target): {method.lower()} {path}')
         elif signedHeader == 'digest':
             bodyDigest = \
-                base64.b64encode(SHA256.new(messageBodyJsonStr.encode()).digest())
+                base64.b64encode(SHA256.new(messageBodyJsonStr.encode()).digest()).encode('utf-8')
             signedHeaderList.append(f'digest: SHA-256={bodyDigest}')
         else:
             if headers.get(signedHeader):