diff --git a/base/common/python/pki/crypto.py b/base/common/python/pki/crypto.py
index a5fe3f70768..e202945c61a 100644
--- a/base/common/python/pki/crypto.py
+++ b/base/common/python/pki/crypto.py
@@ -194,6 +194,9 @@ def import_cert(self, cert_nick, cert, trust=',,'):
         else:
             content = cert
 
+        if type(content) is not six.binary_type:
+            content = content.encode()
+
         # certutil -A -d db_dir -n cert_nick -t trust -i cert_file
         with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile() as cert_file:
             cert_file.write(content)