diff --git a/monkey/infection_monkey/exploit/shellshock.py b/monkey/infection_monkey/exploit/shellshock.py
index edc4851e9..52be145cc 100644
--- a/monkey/infection_monkey/exploit/shellshock.py
+++ b/monkey/infection_monkey/exploit/shellshock.py
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ class ShellShockExploiter(HostExploiter):
             LOG.debug("Header is: %s" % header)
             LOG.debug("Attack is: %s" % attack)
             r = requests.get(url, headers={header: attack}, verify=False, timeout=TIMEOUT)
-            result = r.content
+            result = r.content.decode()
             return result
         except requests.exceptions.RequestException as exc:
             LOG.debug("Failed to run, exception %s" % exc)