diff --git a/lbrynet/extras/daemon/migrator/migrate5to6.py b/lbrynet/extras/daemon/migrator/migrate5to6.py
index 69c9389d4..b8cf23cfb 100644
--- a/lbrynet/extras/daemon/migrator/migrate5to6.py
+++ b/lbrynet/extras/daemon/migrator/migrate5to6.py
@@ -186,10 +186,14 @@ def do_migration(db_dir):
                 (stream_hash, blob_hash, position, iv)
             )
 
+        download_dir = conf.settings.download_dir
+        if not isinstance(download_dir, bytes):
+            download_dir = download_dir.encode()
+
         # insert the file
         transaction.execute(
             "insert or ignore into file values (?, ?, ?, ?, ?)",
-            (stream_hash, stream_name, hexlify(conf.settings.download_dir),
+            (stream_hash, stream_name, hexlify(download_dir),
              data_rate, status)
         )