diff --git a/chime/sensor.py b/chime/sensor.py
index 7b9c497..b74d668 100644
--- a/chime/sensor.py
+++ b/chime/sensor.py
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ class Reading:
             'temperature': self.temp,
             'pressure': self.press,
             'relative_humidity': self.hum,
-        }))
+        }).encode('utf-8'))
 
 
 class SensorError(Exception):