diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 1fa977a..409e422 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 setup(
     name="yinstruments",
     packages=find_packages(),
-    version="1.6.2",
+    version="1.6.3",
     description="Experiment device control scripts for BYU's Configurable Computing Lab (https://ccl.byu.edu/)",
     author="Jeff Goeders",
     author_email="jeff.goeders@gmail.com",
diff --git a/yinstruments/async_reader.py b/yinstruments/async_reader.py
index 11ad99e..4bb5fac 100644
--- a/yinstruments/async_reader.py
+++ b/yinstruments/async_reader.py
@@ -111,7 +111,8 @@ def __init__(self, serial):
     #     raise SerialNoFullLine
 
     def _get_data(self):
-        return self.serial.read_until()
+        t = self.serial.read_until()
+        return t.decode("utf-8")
 
 
 class AsyncReaderSocket(AsyncReader):