diff --git a/certweb/pubkeys.py b/certweb/pubkeys.py
index 5ca8191..7cd460b 100644
--- a/certweb/pubkeys.py
+++ b/certweb/pubkeys.py
@@ -52,9 +52,9 @@ def create():
         ssh_pubkey = request.form['ssh_pubkey']
         splitkey = ssh_pubkey.split(' ')
         enc = splitkey.pop(0)
-        key = splitkey.pop(0)
+        key = str.encode(splitkey.pop(0))
         comment = ' '.join(splitkey)
-        fingerprint = base64.b64encode(hashlib.sha256(base64.b64decode(key)).digest()).rstrip("=")
+        fingerprint = str(base64.b64encode(hashlib.sha256(base64.b64decode(key)).digest()), "utf-8").rstrip('=')
         print(fingerprint)
 
         db = get_db()