diff --git a/magnum/common/short_id.py b/magnum/common/short_id.py
index 03dbd8d360..1568259baa 100644
--- a/magnum/common/short_id.py
+++ b/magnum/common/short_id.py
@@ -51,7 +51,10 @@ def get_id(source_uuid):
     # The first 12 bytes (= 60 bits) of base32-encoded output is our data
     encoded = base64.b32encode(six.b(random_bytes))[:12]
 
-    return encoded.lower()
+    if six.PY3:
+        return encoded.lower().decode('utf-8')
+    else:
+        return encoded.lower()
 
 
 def generate_id():