diff --git a/sat_frontends/jp/base.py b/sat_frontends/jp/base.py
index 5294c3ab..90a5bc94 100644
--- a/sat_frontends/jp/base.py
+++ b/sat_frontends/jp/base.py
@@ -622,7 +622,7 @@ class Jp(object):
                 expanded = nodes2jid[_jid]
             else:
                 expanded = jid
-            return expanded.decode('utf-8')
+            return expanded
 
         def check(jid):
             if not jid.is_valid: