diff --git a/test_requests.py b/test_requests.py
index f6f55319..a9230b1b 100644
--- a/test_requests.py
+++ b/test_requests.py
@@ -178,10 +178,10 @@ class RequestsTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         url = httpbin('digest-auth', 'auth', 'user', 'pass')
 
         r = requests.get(url, auth=auth, stream=True)
-        self.assertNotEqual(r.raw.read(), '')
+        self.assertNotEqual(str(r.raw.read()), str(''))
 
         r = requests.get(url, auth=auth, stream=False)
-        self.assertEqual(r.raw.read(), '')
+        self.assertEqual(str(r.raw.read()), str(''))
 
 
     def test_DIGESTAUTH_WRONG_HTTP_401_GET(self):