diff --git a/lbrynet/lbrynet_daemon/LBRYDaemonCLI.py b/lbrynet/lbrynet_daemon/LBRYDaemonCLI.py
index 2b34d4301..0b5d0ba0c 100644
--- a/lbrynet/lbrynet_daemon/LBRYDaemonCLI.py
+++ b/lbrynet/lbrynet_daemon/LBRYDaemonCLI.py
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ def main():
     if len(args) > 1:
         if isinstance(args[1], dict):
             params = args[1]
-        elif isinstance(args[1], str, unicode):
+        elif isinstance(args[1], basestring):
             params = json.loads(args[1])
     else:
         params = None
@@ -56,4 +56,4 @@ def main():
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
-    main()
\ No newline at end of file
+    main()