diff --git a/etcd3gw/utils.py b/etcd3gw/utils.py
index 386bd1e..e3ba8f7 100644
--- a/etcd3gw/utils.py
+++ b/etcd3gw/utils.py
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ def _decode(data):
     """
     if not isinstance(data, bytes_types):
         data = six.b(str(data))
-    return base64.b64decode(data).decode("utf-8")
+    return base64.b64decode(data.decode("utf-8"))
 
 
 def _increment_last_byte(data):