diff --git a/confluent_server/confluent/selfservice.py b/confluent_server/confluent/selfservice.py
index 2ed02656..014102bc 100644
--- a/confluent_server/confluent/selfservice.py
+++ b/confluent_server/confluent/selfservice.py
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ def handle_request(env, start_response):
         if 'GET' == operation:
             status, output = syncfiles.get_syncresult(nodename)
             output = json.dumps(output)
-            start_response(status, (('Content-Type', 'application/json')))
+            start_response(status, (('Content-Type', 'application/json'),))
             yield output
             return
     elif env['PATH_INFO'].startswith('/self/remoteconfig/status'):
diff --git a/confluent_server/confluent/syncfiles.py b/confluent_server/confluent/syncfiles.py
index b2f5fb63..86c89e45 100644
--- a/confluent_server/confluent/syncfiles.py
+++ b/confluent_server/confluent/syncfiles.py
@@ -142,11 +142,13 @@ def sync_list_to_node(sl, node, suffixes):
             raise
     finally:
         shutil.rmtree(targdir)
+    if not isinstance(output, str):
+        output = output.decode('utf8')
     retval = {
         'options': sl.optmap,
         'output': output,
     }
-    return output # need dictionary with output and options
+    return retval # need dictionary with output and options
 
 def stage_ent(currmap, ent, targdir, appendexist=False):
     dst = currmap[ent]