diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/courses.py b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/courses.py
index d207fb0c61..98e2882919 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/courses.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/courses.py
@@ -622,7 +622,7 @@ def get_current_child(xmodule, min_depth=None, requested_child=None):
         children = xmodule.get_display_items()
         if len(children) > 0:
             if xmodule.position is not None and not requested_child:
-                pos = xmodule.position - 1  # position is 1-indexed
+                pos = int(xmodule.position) - 1  # position is 1-indexed
                 if 0 <= pos < len(children):
                     child = children[pos]
                     if min_depth is not None and (min_depth > 0 and not child.has_children_at_depth(min_depth - 1)):
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/edxnotes/helpers.py b/lms/djangoapps/edxnotes/helpers.py
index 114b4cf6df..38fb389a0c 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/edxnotes/helpers.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/edxnotes/helpers.py
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ def get_notes(request, course, page=DEFAULT_PAGE, page_size=DEFAULT_PAGE_SIZE, t
     response = send_request(request.user, course.id, page, page_size, path, text)
 
     try:
-        collection = json.loads(response.content.decode('utf-8'))
+        collection = json.loads(response.content)
     except ValueError:
         log.error(u"Invalid JSON response received from notes api: response_content=%s", response.content)
         raise EdxNotesParseError(_("Invalid JSON response received from notes api."))