diff --git a/designate/mdns/handler.py b/designate/mdns/handler.py
index 60e8324a8..e9f71c724 100644
--- a/designate/mdns/handler.py
+++ b/designate/mdns/handler.py
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ class RequestHandler(xfr.XFRMixin):
         # validate the parameters
         try:
             criterion = self._zone_criterion_from_request(
-                request, {'name': q_rrset.name.to_text()})
+                request, {'name': q_rrset.name.to_text().decode('utf-8')})
             zone = self.storage.find_zone(context, criterion)
 
         except exceptions.ZoneNotFound: