diff --git a/player/player.py b/player/player.py
index 216165a..74938ef 100755
--- a/player/player.py
+++ b/player/player.py
@@ -279,7 +279,7 @@ class Sync(Thread):
                 % (self.mpv.time_pos, self.mpv.playlist_current_pos)
             ).encode()
             if CONFIG.get("sync_group"):
-                msg = (b"%s " % CONFIG["sync_group"]) + msg
+                msg = ("%s " % CONFIG["sync_group"]).encode() + msg
         except:
             return
         try:
@@ -312,9 +312,10 @@ class Sync(Thread):
             except OSError:
                 logger.error("socket closed")
                 return
+
             if CONFIG.get("sync_group"):
                 if data[0] == str(CONFIG["sync_group"]):
-                    data = data[1:]
+                    data = data[1].split(" ", 1)
                     break
             else:
                 break