diff --git a/beets/util/artresizer.py b/beets/util/artresizer.py
index c1382b5bf..bc9f4409b 100644
--- a/beets/util/artresizer.py
+++ b/beets/util/artresizer.py
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ def resize_url(url, maxwidth):
     """
     return '{0}?{1}'.format(PROXY_URL, urlencode({
         'url': url.replace('http://', ''),
-        'w': bytes(maxwidth),
+        'w': maxwidth,
     }))