diff --git a/virtualsmartcard/src/vpicc/virtualsmartcard/VirtualSmartcard.py b/virtualsmartcard/src/vpicc/virtualsmartcard/VirtualSmartcard.py
index c4d0f95..8bf2f9f 100644
--- a/virtualsmartcard/src/vpicc/virtualsmartcard/VirtualSmartcard.py
+++ b/virtualsmartcard/src/vpicc/virtualsmartcard/VirtualSmartcard.py
@@ -504,7 +504,7 @@ class VirtualICC(object):
     def __sendToVPICC(self, msg):
         """ Send a message to the vpcd """
         if isinstance(msg, str):
-            self.sock.sendall(struct.pack('!H', len(msg)) + msg.encode())
+            self.sock.sendall(struct.pack('!H', len(msg)) + bytes(map(ord,msg)))
         else:
             self.sock.sendall(struct.pack('!H', len(msg)) + msg)
 
diff --git a/virtualsmartcard/src/vpicc/virtualsmartcard/cards/Relay.py b/virtualsmartcard/src/vpicc/virtualsmartcard/cards/Relay.py
index 3fad8b8..b62a353 100644
--- a/virtualsmartcard/src/vpicc/virtualsmartcard/cards/Relay.py
+++ b/virtualsmartcard/src/vpicc/virtualsmartcard/cards/Relay.py
@@ -114,7 +114,10 @@ class RelayOS(SmartcardOS):
 
     def execute(self, msg):
         # sendCommandAPDU() expects a list of APDU bytes
-        apdu = map(ord, msg)
+        if isinstance(msg,str):
+            apdu = map(ord, msg)
+        else:
+            apdu = list(msg)
 
         try:
             rapdu, sw1, sw2 = self.session.sendCommandAPDU(apdu)