diff --git a/tests/base.py b/tests/base.py
index 2bcd1ca..d8a6b77 100755
--- a/tests/base.py
+++ b/tests/base.py
@@ -1384,9 +1384,9 @@
                 len(self.low_queue))
         self.log.debug("releasing queued job %s (%s)" % (regex, qlen))
         for job in self.getQueue():
-            if job.name != 'executor:execute':
+            if job.name != b'executor:execute':
                 continue
-            parameters = json.loads(job.arguments)
+            parameters = json.loads(job.arguments.decode('utf8'))
             if not regex or re.match(regex, parameters.get('job')):
                 self.log.debug("releasing queued job %s" %
                                job.unique)