diff --git a/bin/vmdebootstrap b/bin/vmdebootstrap
index d9a697d..c59da3f 100755
--- a/bin/vmdebootstrap
+++ b/bin/vmdebootstrap
@@ -418,7 +418,7 @@ class VmDebootstrap(cliapp.Application):  # pylint: disable=too-many-public-meth
 
         # /boot partitioning offset calculation
         # returns partoffset
-        if self.settings['bootoffset'] and self.settings['bootoffset'] is not '0':
+        if self.settings['bootoffset'] and self.settings['bootoffset'] != '0':
             # turn v.small offsets into something at least possible to create.
             if self.settings['bootoffset'] < 1048576:
                 partoffset = 1
@@ -433,7 +433,7 @@ class VmDebootstrap(cliapp.Application):  # pylint: disable=too-many-public-meth
 
         # /boot creation - move into base but keep the check
         # needs extent, partoffset, bootsize: no return
-        if self.settings['bootsize'] and self.settings['bootsize'] is not '0%':
+        if self.settings['bootsize'] and self.settings['bootsize'] != '0%':
             boot_fs_type = 'ext2'
             if self.settings['boottype'] in ('vfat', 'msdos'):
                 boot_fs_type = 'fat16'
diff --git a/vmdebootstrap/filesystem.py b/vmdebootstrap/filesystem.py
index b911c05..d068b0d 100644
--- a/vmdebootstrap/filesystem.py
+++ b/vmdebootstrap/filesystem.py
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ class Filesystem(Base):
             raise cliapp.AppException(msg)
         root = '/dev/mapper/%s' % devices[rootindex]
         if self.settings['bootsize'] or self.settings['use-uefi']:
-            boot = '/dev/mapper/%s' % devices[bootindex].decode('utf-8')
+            boot = '/dev/mapper/%s' % devices[bootindex]
         if self.settings['swap'] > 0:
             swap = '/dev/mapper/%s' % devices[swapindex]
         self.devices['rootdev'] = root