diff --git a/python/damask/_result.py b/python/damask/_result.py
index 2c65ad886..6c7211318 100644
--- a/python/damask/_result.py
+++ b/python/damask/_result.py
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ class Result:
         """
         with h5py.File(self.fname,'r') as f:
             try:
-                return f[path].attrs[attr] if h5py3 else f[path].attrs[attr].encode()
+                return f[path].attrs[attr] if h5py3 else f[path].attrs[attr].decode()
             except KeyError:
                 return None