diff --git a/src/parakeet/data/__init__.py b/src/parakeet/data/__init__.py
index 20b5f55..e9fe904 100644
--- a/src/parakeet/data/__init__.py
+++ b/src/parakeet/data/__init__.py
@@ -35,6 +35,9 @@ def get_remote_pdb(pdb_id: str) -> tuple:
     else:
         raise RuntimeError("No PDB or CIF file found")
 
+    if not isinstance(filedata, str):
+        filedata = filedata.decode("ascii")
+
     # Return filedata
     return filename, filedata