diff --git a/oml/changelog.py b/oml/changelog.py
index e52ea40..8b2c314 100644
--- a/oml/changelog.py
+++ b/oml/changelog.py
@@ -55,8 +55,8 @@ class Changelog(db.Model):
         c.revision = cls.query.filter_by(user_id=user.id).count()
         c.data = json.dumps([action] + list(args))
         _data = str(c.revision) + str(c.timestamp) + c.data
-        _data = _data.encode('utf-8')
-        c.sig = settings.sk.sign(_data, encoding='base64')
+        _data = _data.encode()
+        c.sig = settings.sk.sign(_data, encoding='base64').decode()
         state.db.session.add(c)
         state.db.session.commit()
         if state.nodes:
@@ -80,9 +80,9 @@ class Changelog(db.Model):
         next_revision = last.revision + 1 if last else 0
         if revision == next_revision:
             _data = str(revision) + str(timestamp) + data
-            _data = _data.encode('utf-8')
+            _data = _data.encode()
             if rebuild:
-                sig = settings.sk.sign(_data, encoding='base64')
+                sig = settings.sk.sign(_data, encoding='base64').decode()
             if valid(user.id, _data, sig):
                 c = cls()
                 c.created = datetime.utcnow()
@@ -112,14 +112,14 @@ class Changelog(db.Model):
 
     def verify(self):
         _data = str(self.revision) + str(self.timestamp) + self.data
-        _data = _data.encode('utf-8')
-        return valid(self.user_id, _data, self.sig)
+        _data = _data.encode()
+        return valid(self.user_id, _data, self.sig.encode())
 
     @classmethod
     def _rebuild(cls):
         for c in cls.query.filter_by(user_id=settings.USER_ID):
             _data = str(c.revision) + str(c.timestamp) + c.data
-            _data = _data.encode('utf-8')
+            _data = _data.encode()
             c.sig = settings.sk.sign(_data, encoding='base64')
             state.db.session.add(c)
         state.db.session.commit()
diff --git a/oml/directory.py b/oml/directory.py
index 30889bc..c0b384f 100644
--- a/oml/directory.py
+++ b/oml/directory.py
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ def get(vk):
 
 def put(sk, data):
     id = sk.get_verifying_key().to_ascii(encoding='base64').decode()
-    data = json.dumps(data).encode('utf-8')
+    data = json.dumps(data).encode()
     sig = sk.sign(data, encoding='base64')
     url ='%s/%s' % (base, id)
     headers = {
diff --git a/oml/json_pickler.py b/oml/json_pickler.py
index ced07af..d4eb112 100644
--- a/oml/json_pickler.py
+++ b/oml/json_pickler.py
@@ -8,4 +8,4 @@ def loads(*args, **kargs):
 
 def dumps(*args, **kargs):
     #print('dumps', args, kargs)
-    return json.dumps(*args, **kargs).encode('utf-8')
+    return json.dumps(*args, **kargs).encode()
diff --git a/oml/localnodes.py b/oml/localnodes.py
index 5a6c6a6..508f8fe 100644
--- a/oml/localnodes.py
+++ b/oml/localnodes.py
@@ -57,8 +57,8 @@ class LocalNodesBase(Thread):
                 'port': server['node_port'],
                 'cert': server['cert']
             })
-            sig = sk.sign(message.encode('utf-8'), encoding='base64').decode('utf-8')
-            packet = json.dumps([sig, USER_ID, message]).encode('utf-8')
+            sig = sk.sign(message.encode(), encoding='base64').decode()
+            packet = json.dumps([sig, USER_ID, message]).encode()
         else:
             packet = None
         return packet
diff --git a/oml/nodes.py b/oml/nodes.py
index 6970117..5328575 100644
--- a/oml/nodes.py
+++ b/oml/nodes.py
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ class Node(Thread):
             logger.debug('unable to find host %s', self.user_id)
             self.online = False
             return None
-        content = json.dumps([action, args]).encode('utf-8')
+        content = json.dumps([action, args]).encode()
         sig = settings.sk.sign(content, encoding=ENCODING).decode()
         headers = {
             'User-Agent': settings.USER_AGENT,
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ class Node(Thread):
 
     def _valid(self, data, sig):
         if isinstance(data, str):
-            data = data.encode('utf-8')
+            data = data.encode()
         try:
             self.vk.verify(sig, data, encoding=ENCODING)
         #except ed25519.BadSignatureError:
diff --git a/oml/oxtornado.py b/oml/oxtornado.py
index ad302bb..390affa 100644
--- a/oml/oxtornado.py
+++ b/oml/oxtornado.py
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ def _to_json(python_object):
 
 def json_dumps(obj):
     indent = 2
-    return json.dumps(obj, indent=indent, default=_to_json, ensure_ascii=False).encode('utf-8')
+    return json.dumps(obj, indent=indent, default=_to_json, ensure_ascii=False).encode()
 
 def run_async(func):
   @wraps(func)
diff --git a/oml/utils.py b/oml/utils.py
index ef8ca1f..7c9b8d9 100644
--- a/oml/utils.py
+++ b/oml/utils.py
@@ -114,9 +114,15 @@ def valid(key, value, sig):
     '''
     validate that value was signed by key
     '''
-    vk = ed25519.VerifyingKey(str(key), encoding=ENCODING)
+    if isinstance(sig, str):
+        sig = sig.encode()
+    if isinstance(value, str):
+        value = value.encode()
+    if isinstance(key, str):
+        key = key.encode()
+    vk = ed25519.VerifyingKey(key, encoding=ENCODING)
     try:
-        vk.verify(str(sig), str(value), encoding=ENCODING)
+        vk.verify(sig, value, encoding=ENCODING)
     #except ed25519.BadSignatureError:
     except:
         return False