diff --git a/qiita_core/tests/test_util.py b/qiita_core/tests/test_util.py
index bb95909a2..a3fef6942 100644
--- a/qiita_core/tests/test_util.py
+++ b/qiita_core/tests/test_util.py
@@ -72,15 +72,15 @@ def test_get_release_info(self):
         biom_metadata_release, archive_release = get_release_info('private')
         # note that we are testing not equal as we should have some information
         # and then we will test that at least the 2nd element is correct
-        self.assertNotEqual(biom_metadata_release, (b'', b'', b''))
+        self.assertNotEqual(biom_metadata_release, ('', '', ''))
         self.assertEqual(biom_metadata_release[1],
-                         b'releases/QIITA-private.tgz')
-        self.assertEqual(archive_release, (b'', b'', b''))
+                         'releases/QIITA-private.tgz')
+        self.assertEqual(archive_release, ('', '', ''))
 
         generate_plugin_releases()
         biom_metadata_release, archive_release = get_release_info('public')
-        self.assertEqual(biom_metadata_release, (b'', b'', b''))
-        self.assertNotEqual(archive_release, (b'', b'', b''))
+        self.assertEqual(biom_metadata_release, ('', '', ''))
+        self.assertNotEqual(archive_release, ('', '', ''))
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
diff --git a/qiita_core/util.py b/qiita_core/util.py
index 2cc5b54ba..b3f6b4142 100644
--- a/qiita_core/util.py
+++ b/qiita_core/util.py
@@ -135,12 +135,9 @@ def get_release_info(study_status='public'):
     timestamp = r_client.get('%s:release:%s:time' % (portal, study_status))
     # replacing None values for empty strings as the text is displayed nicely
     # in the GUI
-    if md5sum is None:
-        md5sum = b''
-    if filepath is None:
-        filepath = b''
-    if timestamp is None:
-        timestamp = b''
+    md5sum = '' if md5sum is None else md5sum.decode('ascii')
+    filepath = '' if filepath is None else filepath.decode('ascii')
+    timestamp = '' if timestamp is None else timestamp.decode('ascii')
     biom_metadata_release = ((md5sum, filepath, timestamp))
 
     md5sum = r_client.get('release-archive:md5sum')
@@ -148,12 +145,9 @@ def get_release_info(study_status='public'):
     timestamp = r_client.get('release-archive:time')
     # replacing None values for empty strings as the text is displayed nicely
     # in the GUI
-    if md5sum is None:
-        md5sum = b''
-    if filepath is None:
-        filepath = b''
-    if timestamp is None:
-        timestamp = b''
+    md5sum = '' if md5sum is None else md5sum.decode('ascii')
+    filepath = '' if filepath is None else filepath.decode('ascii')
+    timestamp = '' if timestamp is None else timestamp.decode('ascii')
     archive_release = ((md5sum, filepath, timestamp))
 
     return (biom_metadata_release, archive_release)
diff --git a/qiita_pet/handlers/download.py b/qiita_pet/handlers/download.py
index daa296a67..ba7e54131 100644
--- a/qiita_pet/handlers/download.py
+++ b/qiita_pet/handlers/download.py
@@ -266,7 +266,7 @@ def get(self, extras):
         self.set_header('Content-Type', 'application/octet-stream')
         self.set_header('Content-Transfer-Encoding', 'binary')
         self.set_header('X-Accel-Redirect',
-                        '/protected-working_dir/' + relpath.decode('ascii'))
+                        f'/protected-working_dir/{relpath}')
         self.finish()