--- misc/Python-2.6.1/Lib/email/encoders.py
+++ misc/build/Python-2.6.1/Lib/email/encoders.py
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@
     Also, add an appropriate Content-Transfer-Encoding header.
     """
     orig = msg.get_payload()
-    encdata = _bencode(orig)
+    encdata = str(_bencode(orig)).encode('ascii')
     msg.set_payload(encdata)
     msg['Content-Transfer-Encoding'] = 'base64'
 
