diff --git a/iwla.py b/iwla.py
index 8c70ecc..f48531d 100755
--- a/iwla.py
+++ b/iwla.py
@@ -788,7 +788,7 @@ class IWLA(object):
         for l in _file:
             # print "line " + l
 
-            groups = self.log_re.match(l)
+            groups = self.log_re.match(str(l))
 
             if groups:
                 self._newHit(groups.groupdict(""))