diff --git a/zuul/web/__init__.py b/zuul/web/__init__.py
index adbafb5..e962738 100755
--- a/zuul/web/__init__.py
+++ b/zuul/web/__init__.py
@@ -101,8 +101,7 @@
             )
         except Exception as e:
             self.log.exception("Finger client exception:")
-            msg = "Failure from finger client: %s" % e
-            await ws.send_str(msg.decode('utf8'))
+            await ws.send_str("Failure from finger client: %s" % e)
 
         return (1000, "No more data")