diff --git a/VendServer/OpenDispense.py b/VendServer/OpenDispense.py
index c42f235d0db5d30b27de13109d07b065cebba510..d227c1c31bea1896be297f46a30bfbe1122e9364 100644
--- a/VendServer/OpenDispense.py
+++ b/VendServer/OpenDispense.py
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ class OpenDispense(DispenseInterface):
 		if not self.isLoggedIn():
 			return False
 		
-		card_base64 = base64.b64encode(cardId)
+		card_base64 = base64.b64encode(cardId).decode('utf-8')
 		if card_base64 in CARD_BLACKLIST:
 			logging.info("Blacklisted card base64:%s" % (card_base64,))
 			return False