diff --git a/ipaserver/plugins/cert.py b/ipaserver/plugins/cert.py
index ad8bea669..41cb6758d 100644
--- a/ipaserver/plugins/cert.py
+++ b/ipaserver/plugins/cert.py
@@ -560,7 +560,7 @@ def _format_othername(on):
     """Format a python-cryptography OtherName for display."""
     return u'{}:{}'.format(
         on.type_id.dotted_string,
-        base64.b64encode(on.value)
+        base64.b64encode(on.value).decode('ascii')
     )