diff --git a/jrnl/util.py b/jrnl/util.py
index dcfa103e..0d924514 100644
--- a/jrnl/util.py
+++ b/jrnl/util.py
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ SENTENCE_SPLITTER = re.compile(r"""
 
 def getpass(prompt="Password: "):
     if not TEST:
-        return gp.getpass(prompt)
+        return gp.getpass(bytes(prompt))
     else:
         return py23_input(prompt)