diff --git a/client.py b/client.py
index 50f6b2f..7a74607 100644
--- a/client.py
+++ b/client.py
@@ -12,12 +12,12 @@ date = formatdate(usegmt=True)
 digester = hashes.Hash(hashes.SHA256())
 digester.update(activity)
 digest = b64encode(digester.finalize()).decode()
-message = f'date: {date}\ndigest: SHA-256={digest}'
+message = f'date: {date}\ndigest: SHA-256={digest}'.encode('utf8')
 
 with open('private.pem', 'rb') as f:
     privkey = serialization.load_pem_private_key(f.read(), None)
 
-signature = b64encode(privkey.sign(message.encode('utf8'), padding.PKCS1v15(), hashes.SHA256())).decode()
+signature = b64encode(privkey.sign(message, padding.PKCS1v15(), hashes.SHA256())).decode()
 header = f'keyId="https://0.exozy.me/users/test.jsonld#main-key",headers="date digest",signature="{signature}"'
 
 resp = post('https://0.exozy.me/users/test.outbox', headers={