diff --git a/features/steps/core.py b/features/steps/core.py
index 7997f8e7..fadaefc2 100644
--- a/features/steps/core.py
+++ b/features/steps/core.py
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ def check_output_inline(context, text):
     out = context.stdout_capture.getvalue()
     if isinstance(out, bytes):
         out = out.decode('utf-8')
-    assert text in out
+    assert text in out, text
 
 
 @then('the output should not contain "{text}"')
diff --git a/jrnl/EncryptedJournal.py b/jrnl/EncryptedJournal.py
index 17cb880d..ae37769d 100644
--- a/jrnl/EncryptedJournal.py
+++ b/jrnl/EncryptedJournal.py
@@ -80,13 +80,13 @@ class LegacyEncryptedJournal(Journal.LegacyJournal):
             try:
                 plain_padded = decryptor.update(cipher) + decryptor.finalize()
                 self.config['password'] = password
-                if plain_padded[-1] == " ":
+                if plain_padded[-1] in (" ", 32):
                     # Ancient versions of jrnl. Do not judge me.
-                    plain = plain_padded.rstrip(" ")
+                    return plain_padded.decode('utf-8').rstrip(" ")
                 else:
                     unpadder = padding.PKCS7(algorithms.AES.block_size).unpadder()
                     plain = unpadder.update(plain_padded) + unpadder.finalize()
-                return plain.decode('utf-8')
+                    return plain.decode('utf-8')
             except ValueError:
                 return None
         if password: