diff --git a/IM/ConfManager.py b/IM/ConfManager.py
index 3fc71c2de..4700d812b 100644
--- a/IM/ConfManager.py
+++ b/IM/ConfManager.py
@@ -769,7 +769,7 @@ def generate_playbook(self, vm, ctxt_elem, tmp_dir):
                 else:
                     recipes = configure.recipes
                 conf_content = merge_recipes(conf_content, recipes)
-                conf_content = vault_edit.vault.encrypt(conf_content)
+                conf_content = str(vault_edit.vault.encrypt(conf_content))
             else:
                 conf_content = merge_recipes(conf_content, configure.recipes)