diff --git a/Python/import.c b/Python/import.c
index 5b96cea5459..8b11aadf6f7 100644
--- a/Python/import.c
+++ b/Python/import.c
@@ -2686,7 +2686,7 @@ imp_get_magic(PyObject *self, PyObject *noargs)
 	buf[2] = (char) ((pyc_magic >> 16) & 0xff);
 	buf[3] = (char) ((pyc_magic >> 24) & 0xff);
 
-	return PyBytes_FromStringAndSize(buf, 4);
+	return PyString_FromStringAndSize(buf, 4);
 }
 
 static PyObject *