diff --git a/pyric/utils/rfkill.py b/pyric/utils/rfkill.py
index ce0416e..66f011c 100644
--- a/pyric/utils/rfkill.py
+++ b/pyric/utils/rfkill.py
@@ -131,6 +131,7 @@ def rfkill_unblock(idx):
     fout = None
     try:
         rfke = rfkh.rfkill_event(idx,rfkh.RFKILL_TYPE_ALL,rfkh.RFKILL_OP_CHANGE,0,0)
+        if _PY3_: rfke = rfke.decode('ascii')
         fout = open(dpath, 'w')
         fout.write(rfke)
     except struct.error as e:
@@ -231,4 +232,4 @@ def gettype(idx):
     except IOError:
         raise pyric.error(errno.ENODEV,"No device at {0}".format(idx))
     finally:
-        if fin: fin.close()
\ No newline at end of file
+        if fin: fin.close()