diff --git a/recipes/discover_magazine_monthly.recipe b/recipes/discover_magazine_monthly.recipe
index 1c6eb8cd02..da661471e4 100644
--- a/recipes/discover_magazine_monthly.recipe
+++ b/recipes/discover_magazine_monthly.recipe
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ class DiscoverMagazine(BasicNewsRecipe):
         res = br.open('http://discovermagazine.com')
         br.set_debug_http(False)
         raw = res.read()
-        if '>Logout<' not in raw:
+        if b'>Logout<' not in raw:
             raise ValueError('Failed to login')
         return br
 
diff --git a/recipes/insider.recipe b/recipes/insider.recipe
index 2c48cba4e7..4bfe0511cc 100644
--- a/recipes/insider.recipe
+++ b/recipes/insider.recipe
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ class insider(BasicNewsRecipe):
         br['login-password'] = self.password
         res = br.submit()
         raw = res.read()
-        if u'Odhlásit se' not in raw:
+        if b'Odhlásit se' not in raw:
             raise ValueError('Failed to login to insider.cz'
                              'Check your username and password.')
         return br
diff --git a/recipes/kidney.recipe b/recipes/kidney.recipe
index 1a4f33ef77..170e4df847 100644
--- a/recipes/kidney.recipe
+++ b/recipes/kidney.recipe
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ class JASN(BasicNewsRecipe):
         br['code'] = self.password
         response = br.submit()
         raw = response.read()
-        if 'Sign Out' not in raw:
+        if b'Sign Out' not in raw:
             raise ValueError('Failed to log in, is your account expired?')
         return br
 
diff --git a/recipes/le_temps.recipe b/recipes/le_temps.recipe
index 4f180e7f4b..803cb58dbc 100644
--- a/recipes/le_temps.recipe
+++ b/recipes/le_temps.recipe
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ class LeTemps(BasicNewsRecipe):
         br['name'] = self.username
         br['pass'] = self.password
         raw = br.submit().read()
-        if 'href="/subscribe"' in raw:
+        if b'href="/subscribe"' in raw:
             raise ValueError(
                 'Failed to login to letemps.ch. Check '
                 'your username and password'
diff --git a/recipes/melbourne_herald_sun.recipe b/recipes/melbourne_herald_sun.recipe
index f3e5095876..f2b63b3687 100644
--- a/recipes/melbourne_herald_sun.recipe
+++ b/recipes/melbourne_herald_sun.recipe
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ class DailyTelegraph(BasicNewsRecipe):
             br['username'] = self.username
             br['password'] = self.password
             raw = br.submit().read()
-            if '>log out' not in raw.lower():
+            if b'>log out' not in raw.lower():
                 raise ValueError('Failed to log in to www.heralsun'
                                  ' are your username and password correct?')
         return br
diff --git a/recipes/nrc_next.recipe b/recipes/nrc_next.recipe
index 3548a0664a..1e432625c6 100644
--- a/recipes/nrc_next.recipe
+++ b/recipes/nrc_next.recipe
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ class NRCNext(BasicNewsRecipe):
         br['password'] = self.password
         response2 = br.submit()
         raw = response2.get_data()
-        if 'niet ingelogd' in raw:  # in body class
+        if b'niet ingelogd' in raw:  # in body class
             raise ValueError('Failed to login, check username and password')
         epubraw = None
         for today in (date.today(), date.today() - timedelta(days=1),):
diff --git a/recipes/the_new_republic.recipe b/recipes/the_new_republic.recipe
index c645a7d0d1..e92b45373b 100644
--- a/recipes/the_new_republic.recipe
+++ b/recipes/the_new_republic.recipe
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ class TNR(BasicNewsRecipe):
         br['pass'] = self.password
         self.log('Logging in...')
         raw = br.submit().read()
-        if 'SIGN OUT' not in raw:
+        if b'SIGN OUT' not in raw:
             raise ValueError(
                 'Failed to log in to tnr.com, check your username and password')
         self.log('Logged in successfully')