diff --git a/common/djangoapps/student/tests/test_views.py b/common/djangoapps/student/tests/test_views.py
index ebe8b27b58..10ba4dc152 100644
--- a/common/djangoapps/student/tests/test_views.py
+++ b/common/djangoapps/student/tests/test_views.py
@@ -242,8 +242,8 @@ class StudentDashboardTests(SharedModuleStoreTestCase, MilestonesTestCaseMixin,
 
         # Assert course sharing icons
         response = self.client.get(reverse('dashboard'))
-        self.assertEqual('Share on Twitter' in response.content, set_marketing or set_social_sharing)
-        self.assertEqual('Share on Facebook' in response.content, set_marketing or set_social_sharing)
+        self.assertEqual('Share on Twitter' in response.content.decode('utf-8'), set_marketing or set_social_sharing)
+        self.assertEqual('Share on Facebook' in response.content.decode('utf-8'), set_marketing or set_social_sharing)
 
     @patch.dict("django.conf.settings.FEATURES", {'ENABLE_PREREQUISITE_COURSES': True})
     def test_pre_requisites_appear_on_dashboard(self):