diff --git a/src/config/api-server/vnc_cfg_api_server.py b/src/config/api-server/vnc_cfg_api_server.py
index f3d617a0d16..6fcd7f8340b 100644
--- a/src/config/api-server/vnc_cfg_api_server.py
+++ b/src/config/api-server/vnc_cfg_api_server.py
@@ -1741,7 +1741,7 @@ def obj_perms_http_get(self):
         if 'token' not in get_request().query:
             raise cfgm_common.exceptions.HttpError(
                 400, 'User token needed for validation')
-        user_token = get_request().query.token
+        user_token = get_request().query.token.encode("ascii")
 
         # get permissions in internal context
         try: