diff --git a/boards/models/post/sync.py b/boards/models/post/sync.py
--- a/boards/models/post/sync.py
+++ b/boards/models/post/sync.py
@@ -149,7 +149,8 @@ class SyncManager:
             for tag_model in tag_models:
                 tag_content = tag_model.find(TAG_CONTENT)
 
-                signatures = SyncManager._verify_model(tag_content, tag_model)
+                content_str = et.tostring(tag_content, ENCODING_UNICODE)
+                signatures = SyncManager._verify_model(content_str, tag_model)
 
                 tag_id = tag_content.find(TAG_ID)
                 global_id, exists = GlobalId.from_xml_element(tag_id)
@@ -157,8 +158,7 @@ class SyncManager:
                 if exists:
                     print('Post with same ID already exists')
                 else:
-                    global_id.content = et.tostring(tag_content,
-                                                    ENCODING_UNICODE)
+                    global_id.content = content_str
                     global_id.save()
                     for signature in signatures:
                         signature.global_id = global_id
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ class SyncManager:
         return et.tostring(response, ENCODING_UNICODE)
 
     @staticmethod
-    def _verify_model(tag_content, tag_model):
+    def _verify_model(content_str, tag_model):
         """
         Verifies all signatures for a single model.
         """
@@ -246,11 +246,8 @@ class SyncManager:
                                   key=signature_key,
                                   signature=signature_value)
 
-            content = et.tostring(tag_content, ENCODING_UNICODE)
-
-            if not KeyPair.objects.verify(
-                    signature, content):
-                raise SyncException('Invalid model signature for {}'.format(content))
+            if not KeyPair.objects.verify(signature, content_str):
+                raise SyncException('Invalid model signature for {}'.format(content_str))
 
             signatures.append(signature)