diff --git a/lib/core/common.py b/lib/core/common.py
index 3c419e5b3..be59ec207 100644
--- a/lib/core/common.py
+++ b/lib/core/common.py
@@ -5056,7 +5056,7 @@ def getRequestHeader(request, name):
 
     if request and request.headers and name:
         _ = name.upper()
-        retVal = max(getBytes(value if _ == key.upper() else "") for key, value in request.header_items()) or None
+        retVal = max(getBytes(value if _ == key.upper() else "") for key, value in request.header_items()).decode("utf-8") or None
 
     return retVal