diff --git a/services/core/VolttronCentralPlatform/vcplatform/agent.py b/services/core/VolttronCentralPlatform/vcplatform/agent.py
index 9c18def8ec..22526d3899 100644
--- a/services/core/VolttronCentralPlatform/vcplatform/agent.py
+++ b/services/core/VolttronCentralPlatform/vcplatform/agent.py
@@ -1159,8 +1159,9 @@ def _install_agent(self, fileargs):
                 with open(path, 'wb') as fout:
                     fout.write(
                         base64.decodestring(
-                            fileargs['file'].split(base64_sep)[1]))
-
+                            fileargs['file'].split(base64_sep)[1].encode('utf-8')
+                        )
+                    )
             uuid = self.vip.rpc.call(CONTROL, 'install_agent_local',
                                      path, vip_identity=vip_identity
                                      ).get(timeout=30)