diff --git a/python3/httplib2/__init__.py b/python3/httplib2/__init__.py
index e01ddd7..1f6cfe7 100644
--- a/python3/httplib2/__init__.py
+++ b/python3/httplib2/__init__.py
@@ -402,7 +402,8 @@ def _cnonce():
     return dig[:16]
 
 def _wsse_username_token(cnonce, iso_now, password):
-    return base64.b64encode(_sha(("%s%s%s" % (cnonce, iso_now, password)).encode('utf-8')).digest()).strip()
+    # added the ending .decode to avoid python binary string encapsulation (b'...') from the final header
+    return base64.b64encode(_sha(("%s%s%s" % (cnonce, iso_now, password)).encode('utf-8')).digest()).strip().decode('acsii')
 
 
 # For credentials we need two things, first