diff --git a/src/protocol.py b/src/protocol.py
index 1b62b78f..caecb183 100644
--- a/src/protocol.py
+++ b/src/protocol.py
@@ -323,7 +323,7 @@ def assembleAddrMessage(peerList):
             payload += encodeHost(peer.host)
             # remote port
             payload += pack('>H', peer.port)
-        retval += CreatePacket('addr', payload)
+        retval += CreatePacket(b'addr', payload)
     return retval