diff --git a/lemur/common/validators.py b/lemur/common/validators.py
index 398a8509..ea107fc8 100644
--- a/lemur/common/validators.py
+++ b/lemur/common/validators.py
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ def csr(data):
     :return:
     """
     try:
-        x509.load_pem_x509_csr(bytes(data), default_backend())
+        x509.load_pem_x509_csr(data.encode('utf-8'), default_backend())
     except Exception:
         raise ValidationError('CSR presented is not valid.')