diff --git a/pickle/pickle.py b/pickle/pickle.py
index 18c46ae0..6e1d93ac 100644
--- a/pickle/pickle.py
+++ b/pickle/pickle.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ def dump(obj, f, proto=0):
     f.write(repr(obj))
 
 def dumps(obj, proto=0):
-    return repr(obj)
+    return repr(obj).encode()
 
 def load(f):
     s = f.read()
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ def load(f):
 
 def loads(s):
     d = {}
+    s = s.decode()
     if "(" in s:
         qualname = s.split("(", 1)[0]
         if "." in qualname: