diff --git a/test/_common.py b/test/_common.py
index 6e6071534..723915d01 100644
--- a/test/_common.py
+++ b/test/_common.py
@@ -13,7 +13,8 @@
 # included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
 
 """Some common functionality for beets' test cases."""
-from __future__ import division, absolute_import, print_function
+from __future__ import (division, absolute_import, print_function,
+                        unicode_literals)
 
 import time
 import sys
@@ -237,7 +238,7 @@ class DummyOut(object):
         self.buf.append(s)
 
     def get(self):
-        return ''.join(self.buf)
+        return b''.join(self.buf)
 
     def clear(self):
         self.buf = []
@@ -252,7 +253,7 @@ class DummyIn(object):
         self.out = out
 
     def add(self, s):
-        self.buf.append(s + '\n')
+        self.buf.append(s + b'\n')
 
     def readline(self):
         if not self.buf:
diff --git a/test/helper.py b/test/helper.py
index 3e1cb1268..2d38599ce 100644
--- a/test/helper.py
+++ b/test/helper.py
@@ -30,7 +30,8 @@ information or mock the environment.
 """
 
 
-from __future__ import division, absolute_import, print_function
+from __future__ import (division, absolute_import, print_function,
+                        unicode_literals)
 
 import sys
 import os