diff --git a/tests/test_webclient.py b/tests/test_webclient.py
index d56c9f683..3784aa401 100644
--- a/tests/test_webclient.py
+++ b/tests/test_webclient.py
@@ -266,8 +266,8 @@ class WebClientTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         def _getPage(method):
             return getPage(self.getURL("file"), method=method)
         return defer.gatherResults([
-            _getPage("head").addCallback(self.assertEqual, ""),
-            _getPage("HEAD").addCallback(self.assertEqual, "")])
+            _getPage("head").addCallback(self.assertEqual, b""),
+            _getPage("HEAD").addCallback(self.assertEqual, b"")])
 
 
     def test_timeoutNotTriggering(self):