diff --git a/scripts/openvpn-auth.py b/scripts/openvpn-auth.py
index 6cedcbb..750008c 100755
--- a/scripts/openvpn-auth.py
+++ b/scripts/openvpn-auth.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ if not password:
 
 file = open('/opt/openvpn/users/'+username+'.pwd', 'r')
 hashed=file.read().rstrip()
-if bcrypt.hashpw(password, hashed) == hashed:
+if bcrypt.hashpw(password.encode('utf-8'), hashed.encode('utf-8')) == hashed.encode('utf-8'):
     sys.exit(0)
 else:
     sys.exit(1)