diff --git a/direct/src/distributed/AstronDatabaseInterface.py b/direct/src/distributed/AstronDatabaseInterface.py
index e42e6d2f93..31dc73353d 100644
--- a/direct/src/distributed/AstronDatabaseInterface.py
+++ b/direct/src/distributed/AstronDatabaseInterface.py
@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@ class AstronDatabaseInterface:
         dg.addUint32(doId)
         if fieldCount != 1:
             dg.addUint16(fieldCount)
-        dg.appendData(fieldPacker.getString())
+        dg.appendData(fieldPacker.getBytes())
         self.air.send(dg)
 
         if oldFields is None and callback is not None: