diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/lms_xblock/migrations/0001_initial.py b/lms/djangoapps/lms_xblock/migrations/0001_initial.py
index ad8a25ab03..298fda4258 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/lms_xblock/migrations/0001_initial.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/lms_xblock/migrations/0001_initial.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ class Migration(migrations.Migration):
                 ('id', models.AutoField(verbose_name='ID', serialize=False, auto_created=True, primary_key=True)),
                 ('change_date', models.DateTimeField(auto_now_add=True, verbose_name='Change date')),
                 ('enabled', models.BooleanField(default=False, verbose_name='Enabled')),
-                ('disabled_blocks', models.TextField(default=b'about course_info static_tab', help_text=b'Space-separated list of XBlocks on which XBlockAsides should never render.')),
+                ('disabled_blocks', models.TextField(default=u'about course_info static_tab', help_text=u'Space-separated list of XBlocks on which XBlockAsides should never render.')),
                 ('changed_by', models.ForeignKey(on_delete=django.db.models.deletion.PROTECT, editable=False, to=settings.AUTH_USER_MODEL, null=True, verbose_name='Changed by')),
             ],
             options={
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/lms_xblock/models.py b/lms/djangoapps/lms_xblock/models.py
index a6a91e1321..cbfbde5b3c 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/lms_xblock/models.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/lms_xblock/models.py
@@ -24,8 +24,8 @@ class XBlockAsidesConfig(ConfigurationModel):
         app_label = "lms_xblock"
 
     disabled_blocks = TextField(
-        default="about course_info static_tab",
-        help_text="Space-separated list of XBlocks on which XBlockAsides should never render."
+        default=u"about course_info static_tab",
+        help_text=u"Space-separated list of XBlocks on which XBlockAsides should never render."
     )
 
     @classmethod