diff --git a/notification/engine.py b/notification/engine.py
index ee901b96..026a2acc 100644
--- a/notification/engine.py
+++ b/notification/engine.py
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ def send_all():
 
     try:
         for queued_batch in NoticeQueueBatch.objects.all():
-            notices = pickle.loads(str(queued_batch.pickled_data))
+            notices = pickle.loads(str(queued_batch.pickled_data).decode("base64"))
             for user, label, extra_context, on_site in notices:
                 user = User.objects.get(pk=user)
                 logging.info("emitting notice to %s" % user)
diff --git a/notification/models.py b/notification/models.py
index 4649e25d..64b1f3fd 100644
--- a/notification/models.py
+++ b/notification/models.py
@@ -339,7 +339,7 @@ def queue(users, label, extra_context=None, on_site=True):
     notices = []
     for user in users:
         notices.append((user, label, extra_context, on_site))
-    NoticeQueueBatch(pickled_data=pickle.dumps(notices)).save()
+    NoticeQueueBatch(pickled_data=pickle.dumps(notices).encode("base64")).save()
 
 class ObservedItemManager(models.Manager):