diff --git a/telethon/network/connection/tcpobfuscated.py b/telethon/network/connection/tcpobfuscated.py
index e3a00d89..adac2d67 100644
--- a/telethon/network/connection/tcpobfuscated.py
+++ b/telethon/network/connection/tcpobfuscated.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ class ConnectionTcpObfuscated(ConnectionTcpAbridged):
         keywords = (b'PVrG', b'GET ', b'POST', b'\xee\xee\xee\xee')
         while True:
             random = os.urandom(64)
-            if (random[0] != b'\xef' and
+            if (random[0] != 0xef and
                     random[:4] not in keywords and
                     random[4:4] != b'\0\0\0\0'):
                 break