diff --git a/src/plugins/plugin_sec_otr.py b/src/plugins/plugin_sec_otr.py
index 99991b19..c83034f4 100644
--- a/src/plugins/plugin_sec_otr.py
+++ b/src/plugins/plugin_sec_otr.py
@@ -130,7 +130,9 @@ class Account(potr.context.Account):
 
     def savePrivkey(self):
         log.debug(u"savePrivkey")
-        priv_key = self.getPrivkey().serializePrivateKey()
+        if self.privkey is None:
+            raise exceptions.InternalError(_("Save is called but privkey is None !"))
+        priv_key = self.privkey.serializePrivateKey().encode('hex')
         d = self.host.memory.encryptValue(priv_key, self.client.profile)
         def save_encrypted_key(encrypted_priv_key):
             self.client.otr_data[PRIVATE_KEY] = encrypted_priv_key
@@ -193,7 +195,7 @@ class OTR(object):
         encrypted_priv_key = client.otr_data.get(PRIVATE_KEY, None)
         if encrypted_priv_key is not None:
             priv_key = yield self.host.memory.decryptValue(encrypted_priv_key, profile)
-            client.otr_priv_key = potr.crypt.PK.parsePrivateKey(priv_key)[0]
+            client.otr_priv_key = potr.crypt.PK.parsePrivateKey(priv_key.decode('hex'))[0]
         else:
             client.otr_priv_key = None