diff --git a/src/storage/sqlite.py b/src/storage/sqlite.py
index aba64244..7c9e8822 100644
--- a/src/storage/sqlite.py
+++ b/src/storage/sqlite.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import collections
 from threading import current_thread, enumerate as threadingEnumerate, RLock
 import Queue
+import sqlite3
 import time
 
 from helper_sql import *
@@ -50,7 +51,7 @@ class SqliteInventory(InventoryStorage):
     def by_type_and_tag(self, objectType, tag):
         with self.lock:
             values = [value for value in self._inventory.values() if value.type == objectType and value.tag == tag]
-            values += (InventoryItem(*value) for value in sqlQuery('SELECT objecttype, streamnumber, payload, expirestime, tag FROM inventory WHERE objecttype=? AND tag=?', objectType, tag))
+            values += (InventoryItem(*value) for value in sqlQuery('SELECT objecttype, streamnumber, payload, expirestime, tag FROM inventory WHERE objecttype=? AND tag=?', objectType, sqlite3.Binary(tag)))
             return values
 
     def hashes_by_stream(self, stream):