diff --git a/src/allmydata/test/strategies.py b/src/allmydata/test/strategies.py
index fea71799a..61d6d6e78 100644
--- a/src/allmydata/test/strategies.py
+++ b/src/allmydata/test/strategies.py
@@ -131,6 +131,6 @@ def base32text():
     Build text()s that are valid base32
     """
     return builds(
-        b2a,
+        lambda b: str(b2a(b), "ascii"),
         binary(),
     )