diff --git a/lbrynet/dht/datastore.py b/lbrynet/dht/datastore.py
index e1b3883c2..bc233fa98 100644
--- a/lbrynet/dht/datastore.py
+++ b/lbrynet/dht/datastore.py
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ class DictDataStore(UserDict):
                 self._dict[key] = unexpired_peers
 
     def hasPeersForBlob(self, key):
-        return True if key in self._dict and len(self.filter_bad_and_expired_peers(key)) else False
+        return True if key in self._dict and len(tuple(self.filter_bad_and_expired_peers(key))) else False
 
     def addPeerToBlob(self, contact, key, compact_address, lastPublished, originallyPublished, originalPublisherID):
         if key in self._dict:
diff --git a/lbrynet/dht/kbucket.py b/lbrynet/dht/kbucket.py
index 2e601ed1b..0a323ac57 100644
--- a/lbrynet/dht/kbucket.py
+++ b/lbrynet/dht/kbucket.py
@@ -1,7 +1,12 @@
 import logging
+from binascii import hexlify
+
 from . import constants
 from .distance import Distance
 from .error import BucketFull
+import sys
+if sys.version_info > (3,):
+    long = int
 
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -135,8 +140,8 @@ class KBucket(object):
                  if not.
         @rtype: bool
         """
-        if isinstance(key, str):
-            key = long(key.encode('hex'), 16)
+        if isinstance(key, bytes):
+            key = long(hexlify(key), 16)
         return self.rangeMin <= key < self.rangeMax
 
     def __len__(self):
diff --git a/lbrynet/dht/node.py b/lbrynet/dht/node.py
index f8e28836b..f4937852b 100644
--- a/lbrynet/dht/node.py
+++ b/lbrynet/dht/node.py
@@ -528,7 +528,7 @@ class Node(MockKademliaHelper):
         elif not self.verify_token(token, compact_ip):
             raise ValueError("Invalid token")
         if 0 <= port <= 65536:
-            compact_port = str(struct.pack('>H', port))
+            compact_port = struct.pack('>H', port)
         else:
             raise TypeError('Invalid port')
         compact_address = compact_ip + compact_port + rpc_contact.id
diff --git a/tests/unit/dht/test_node.py b/tests/unit/dht/test_node.py
index 93ee047e3..140885da6 100644
--- a/tests/unit/dht/test_node.py
+++ b/tests/unit/dht/test_node.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ class NodeIDTest(unittest.TestCase):
 
     def testAutoCreatedID(self):
         """ Tests if a new node has a valid node ID """
-        self.failUnlessEqual(type(self.node.node_id), str, 'Node does not have a valid ID')
+        self.failUnlessEqual(type(self.node.node_id), bytes, 'Node does not have a valid ID')
         self.failUnlessEqual(len(self.node.node_id), 48, 'Node ID length is incorrect! '
                                                         'Expected 384 bits, got %d bits.' %
                              (len(self.node.node_id) * 8))
@@ -48,13 +48,13 @@ class NodeDataTest(unittest.TestCase):
     """ Test case for the Node class's data-related functions """
     def setUp(self):
         h = hashlib.sha384()
-        h.update('test')
+        h.update(b'test')
         self.node = Node()
         self.contact = self.node.contact_manager.make_contact(h.digest(), '127.0.0.1', 12345, self.node._protocol)
         self.token = self.node.make_token(self.contact.compact_ip())
         self.cases = []
-        for i in xrange(5):
-            h.update(str(i))
+        for i in range(5):
+            h.update(str(i).encode())
             self.cases.append((h.digest(), 5000+2*i))
             self.cases.append((h.digest(), 5001+2*i))
 
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ class NodeDataTest(unittest.TestCase):
                 self.contact, key, self.token, port, self.contact.id, 0
             )
         for key, value in self.cases:
-            expected_result = self.contact.compact_ip() + str(struct.pack('>H', value)) + \
+            expected_result = self.contact.compact_ip() + struct.pack('>H', value) + \
                               self.contact.id
             self.failUnless(self.node._dataStore.hasPeersForBlob(key),
                             'Stored key not found in node\'s DataStore: "%s"' % key)
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ class NodeContactTest(unittest.TestCase):
         """ Tests if a contact can be added and retrieved correctly """
         # Create the contact
         h = hashlib.sha384()
-        h.update('node1')
+        h.update(b'node1')
         contactID = h.digest()
         contact = self.node.contact_manager.make_contact(contactID, '127.0.0.1', 9182, self.node._protocol)
         # Now add it...