diff --git a/morituri/test/common.py b/morituri/test/common.py
index 97e716e..955db36 100644
--- a/morituri/test/common.py
+++ b/morituri/test/common.py
@@ -31,7 +31,8 @@ def _diff(old, new, desc):
 
 def diffStrings(orig, new, desc='input'):
 
-    assert type(orig) == type(new)
+    assert type(orig) == type(new), 'type %s and %s are different' % (
+        type(orig), type(new))
 
     def _tolines(s):
         return [line + '\n' for line in s.split('\n')]
diff --git a/morituri/test/test_image_toc.py b/morituri/test/test_image_toc.py
index 6485a4c..24e9345 100644
--- a/morituri/test/test_image_toc.py
+++ b/morituri/test/test_image_toc.py
@@ -85,7 +85,8 @@ class CureTestCase(common.TestCase):
     def testConvertCue(self):
         self.toc.table.absolutize()
         cue = self.toc.table.cue()
-        ref = open(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), 'cure.cue')).read()
+        ref = open(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), 'cure.cue')).read(
+            ).decode('utf-8')
         common.diffStrings(cue, ref)
 
         # we verify it because it has failed in readdisc in the past