diff --git a/RNS/Interfaces/AX25KISSInterface.py b/RNS/Interfaces/AX25KISSInterface.py
index ca13a96..916f798 100644
--- a/RNS/Interfaces/AX25KISSInterface.py
+++ b/RNS/Interfaces/AX25KISSInterface.py
@@ -23,6 +23,12 @@ class KISS():
 	CMD_READY         = 0x0F
 	CMD_RETURN		  = 0xFF
 
+	@staticmethod
+	def escape(data):
+		data = data.replace(bytes([0xdb]), bytes([0xdb])+bytes([0xdd]))
+		data = data.replace(bytes([0xc0]), bytes([0xdb])+bytes([0xdc]))
+		return data
+
 class AX25():
 	PID_NOLAYER3	= 0xF0
 	CTRL_UI			= 0x03
@@ -245,7 +251,7 @@ class AX25KISSInterface(Interface):
 			in_frame = False
 			escape = False
 			command = KISS.CMD_UNKNOWN
-			data_buffer = ""
+			data_buffer = b""
 			last_read_ms = int(time.time()*1000)
 
 			while self.serial.is_open:
@@ -284,7 +290,7 @@ class AX25KISSInterface(Interface):
 				else:
 					time_since_last = int(time.time()*1000) - last_read_ms
 					if len(data_buffer) > 0 and time_since_last > self.timeout:
-			 			data_buffer = ""
+			 			data_buffer = b""
 			 			in_frame = False
 			 			command = KISS.CMD_UNKNOWN
 			 			escape = False
diff --git a/RNS/Interfaces/KISSInterface.py b/RNS/Interfaces/KISSInterface.py
index e2fef24..d80cb1b 100644
--- a/RNS/Interfaces/KISSInterface.py
+++ b/RNS/Interfaces/KISSInterface.py
@@ -23,6 +23,12 @@ class KISS():
 	CMD_READY         = 0x0F
 	CMD_RETURN		  = 0xFF
 
+	@staticmethod
+	def escape(data):
+		data = data.replace(bytes([0xdb]), bytes([0xdb])+bytes([0xdd]))
+		data = data.replace(bytes([0xc0]), bytes([0xdb])+bytes([0xdc]))
+		return data
+
 class KISSInterface(Interface):
 	MAX_CHUNK = 32768
 
@@ -236,7 +242,7 @@ class KISSInterface(Interface):
 				else:
 					time_since_last = int(time.time()*1000) - last_read_ms
 					if len(data_buffer) > 0 and time_since_last > self.timeout:
-						data_buffer = ""
+						data_buffer = b""
 						in_frame = False
 						command = KISS.CMD_UNKNOWN
 						escape = False
diff --git a/RNS/Interfaces/RNodeInterface.py b/RNS/Interfaces/RNodeInterface.py
index 76dc82b..7a68056 100644
--- a/RNS/Interfaces/RNodeInterface.py
+++ b/RNS/Interfaces/RNodeInterface.py
@@ -429,7 +429,7 @@ class RNodeInterface(Interface):
 					time_since_last = int(time.time()*1000) - last_read_ms
 					if len(data_buffer) > 0 and time_since_last > self.timeout:
 						RNS.log(str(self)+" serial read timeout", RNS.LOG_DEBUG)
-						data_buffer = ""
+						data_buffer = b""
 						in_frame = False
 						command = KISS.CMD_UNKNOWN
 						escape = False