diff --git a/patroni/scripts/wale_restore.py b/patroni/scripts/wale_restore.py
index 4383e986..28eefe2e 100755
--- a/patroni/scripts/wale_restore.py
+++ b/patroni/scripts/wale_restore.py
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ class WALERestore(object):
             # base_00000001000000000000007F_00000040  2015-05-18T10:13:25.000Z
             # 20310671    00000001000000000000007F    00000040
             # 00000001000000000000007F    00000240
-            backup_strings = latest_backup.splitlines() if latest_backup else ()
+            backup_strings = latest_backup.decode('utf-8').splitlines() if latest_backup else ()
             if len(backup_strings) != 2:
                 return False