diff --git a/django/contrib/gis/db/models/fields.py b/django/contrib/gis/db/models/fields.py
index 17630d0899..c8b8901d59 100644
--- a/django/contrib/gis/db/models/fields.py
+++ b/django/contrib/gis/db/models/fields.py
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ class GeometryField(Field):
         # from the given string input.
         if isinstance(geom, Geometry):
             pass
-        elif isinstance(geom, six.string_types) or hasattr(geom, '__geo_interface__'):
+        elif isinstance(geom, (bytes, six.string_types)) or hasattr(geom, '__geo_interface__'):
             try:
                 geom = Geometry(geom)
             except GeometryException: