diff --git a/rhodecode/tests/vcs_operations/conftest.py b/rhodecode/tests/vcs_operations/conftest.py
--- a/rhodecode/tests/vcs_operations/conftest.py
+++ b/rhodecode/tests/vcs_operations/conftest.py
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ import pytest
 import logging
 
 from rhodecode import events
+from rhodecode.lib.str_utils import safe_bytes
 from rhodecode.model.db import Integration, UserRepoToPerm, Permission, \
     UserToRepoBranchPermission, User
 from rhodecode.model.integration import IntegrationModel
@@ -76,7 +77,7 @@ def rcextensions(request, db_connection,
         return
 
     request.addfinalizer(rcextensions_path.remove)
-    init_path.write_binary(init_content, ensure=True)
+    init_path.write_binary(safe_bytes(init_content), ensure=True)
 
 
 @pytest.fixture(scope="module")