diff --git a/openedx/core/djangoapps/profile_images/images.py b/openedx/core/djangoapps/profile_images/images.py
index aefb28e8b7..bfce3a026f 100644
--- a/openedx/core/djangoapps/profile_images/images.py
+++ b/openedx/core/djangoapps/profile_images/images.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ Image file manipulation functions related to profile images.
 """
 from __future__ import absolute_import
 
+import binascii
 from collections import namedtuple
 from contextlib import closing
 from io import BytesIO
@@ -128,7 +129,7 @@ def validate_uploaded_image(uploaded_file):
 
     # check magic number matches expected file type
     headers = IMAGE_TYPES[filetype].magic
-    if uploaded_file.read(len(headers[0]) / 2).encode('hex') not in headers:
+    if binascii.hexlify(uploaded_file.read(len(headers[0]) // 2)).decode('utf-8') not in headers:
         file_upload_bad_ext = _(
             u'The file name extension for this file does not match '
             u'the file data. The file may be corrupted.'