diff --git a/lemur/plugins/lemur_cfssl/plugin.py b/lemur/plugins/lemur_cfssl/plugin.py
index 76cc4b24..c1912364 100644
--- a/lemur/plugins/lemur_cfssl/plugin.py
+++ b/lemur/plugins/lemur_cfssl/plugin.py
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ class CfsslIssuerPlugin(IssuerPlugin):
 
         url = "{0}{1}".format(current_app.config.get('CFSSL_URL'), '/api/v1/cfssl/sign')
 
-        data = {'certificate_request': csr.decode('utf_8')}
+        data = {'certificate_request': csr}
         data = json.dumps(data)
 
         response = self.session.post(url, data=data.encode(encoding='utf_8', errors='strict'))
diff --git a/lemur/plugins/lemur_cryptography/plugin.py b/lemur/plugins/lemur_cryptography/plugin.py
index 8d483ea5..af76db23 100644
--- a/lemur/plugins/lemur_cryptography/plugin.py
+++ b/lemur/plugins/lemur_cryptography/plugin.py
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ def build_root_certificate(options):
 
 
 def issue_certificate(csr, options):
-    csr = x509.load_pem_x509_csr(csr, default_backend())
+    csr = x509.load_pem_x509_csr(csr.encode('utf-8'), default_backend())
 
     builder = x509.CertificateBuilder(
         issuer_name=x509.Name([