diff --git a/screenless/bureau/publications/publications.py b/screenless/bureau/publications/publications.py
index eb6275c..8eecece 100644
--- a/screenless/bureau/publications/publications.py
+++ b/screenless/bureau/publications/publications.py
@@ -273,7 +273,7 @@ class Publications(Bureau):
                 entry.source = feed.feed.title
                 entry.dbhash = self._make_shorturl(entry.link)
                 entry.svg = code128.svg("PBr." + entry.dbhash)
-                encoded_svg = b64encode(entry.svg).decode()
+                encoded_svg = b64encode(bytest(entry.svg, 'utf-8')).decode()
                 encoded_data = "data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8;base64," + encoded_svg
                 entry.svg = '<img src="%s"/>' % encoded_data