diff --git a/warc/utils.py b/warc/utils.py
index 8fb783b..713adf1 100644
--- a/warc/utils.py
+++ b/warc/utils.py
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ def _read(self, size):
             self.buf = self.buf[size:]
         else:
             size = min(size, self.length - self.offset - len(self.buf))
-            content = self.buf + self.fileobj.read(size)
+            content = self.buf + str(self.fileobj.read(size))
             self.buf = ""
         self.offset += len(content)
         return content
diff --git a/warc/warc.py b/warc/warc.py
index d15d839..1046cb3 100644
--- a/warc/warc.py
+++ b/warc/warc.py
@@ -369,8 +369,8 @@ def finish_reading_current_record(self):
         if self.current_payload:
             # consume all data from the current_payload before moving to next record
             self.current_payload.read()
-            self.expect(self.current_payload.fileobj, "\r\n")
-            self.expect(self.current_payload.fileobj, "\r\n")
+            self.expect(self.current_payload.fileobj, b"\r\n")
+            self.expect(self.current_payload.fileobj, b"\r\n")
             self.current_payload = None
 
     def read_record(self):