diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 4f9eb9a..49eed87 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ The following shows how to use this for a custom class that's stored as
 a JSON string for example:
 
 ```python
-
+   import sys
    from json import JSONEncoder, JSONDecoder
    from rejson import Client
 
@@ -128,11 +128,13 @@ a JSON string for example:
                return str(obj)
            return json.JSONEncoder.encode(self, obj)
 
-   class TestDecoder(JSONDecoder):
+   class CustomDecoder(JSONDecoder):
        "A custom decoder for the custom class"
        def decode(self, obj):
            d = json.JSONDecoder.decode(self, obj)
-           if isinstance(d, basestring) and d.startswith('CustomClass:'):
+           
+           str_type = basestring if sys.version_info.major == 2 else str
+           if isinstance(d, str_type) and d.startswith('CustomClass:'):
                return CustomClass(d)
            return d