diff --git a/src/calibre/ebooks/lit/reader.py b/src/calibre/ebooks/lit/reader.py
index 86ff680e62..ab060b8757 100644
--- a/src/calibre/ebooks/lit/reader.py
+++ b/src/calibre/ebooks/lit/reader.py
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ class UnBinary(object):
                 state = 'text' if oc == 0 else 'get attr'
                 if flags & FLAG_OPENING:
                     tag = oc
-                    buf.write('<')
+                    buf.write(b'<')
                     if not (flags & FLAG_CLOSING):
                         is_goingdown = True
                     if tag == 0x8000:
@@ -261,9 +261,9 @@ class UnBinary(object):
                     if not is_goingdown:
                         tag_name = None
                         dynamic_tag = 0
-                        buf.write(' />')
+                        buf.write(b' />')
                     else:
-                        buf.write('>')
+                        buf.write(b'>')
                         frame = (depth, tag_name, current_map,
                             dynamic_tag, errors, in_censorship, False,
                             'close tag', flags)
@@ -288,7 +288,7 @@ class UnBinary(object):
                         in_censorship = True
                         state = 'get value length'
                         continue
-                    buf.write(' ' + encode(attr) + '=')
+                    buf.write(b' ' + encode(attr) + b'=')
                     if attr in ['href', 'src']:
                         state = 'get href length'
                     else:
@@ -296,11 +296,11 @@ class UnBinary(object):
 
             elif state == 'get value length':
                 if not in_censorship:
-                    buf.write('"')
+                    buf.write(b'"')
                 count = oc - 1
                 if count == 0:
                     if not in_censorship:
-                        buf.write('"')
+                        buf.write(b'"')
                     in_censorship = False
                     state = 'get attr'
                     continue
@@ -313,7 +313,7 @@ class UnBinary(object):
             elif state == 'get value':
                 if count == 0xfffe:
                     if not in_censorship:
-                        buf.write('%s"' % (oc - 1))
+                        buf.write(encode('%s"' % (oc - 1)))
                     in_censorship = False
                     state = 'get attr'
                 elif count > 0:
@@ -326,7 +326,7 @@ class UnBinary(object):
                     count -= 1
                 if count == 0:
                     if not in_censorship:
-                        buf.write('"')
+                        buf.write(b'"')
                     in_censorship = False
                     state = 'get attr'
 
@@ -349,14 +349,14 @@ class UnBinary(object):
                 count = oc - 1
                 if count <= 0 or count > (len(bin) - self.cpos):
                     raise LitError('Invalid character count %d' % count)
-                buf.write(' ')
+                buf.write(b' ')
                 state = 'get custom attr'
 
             elif state == 'get custom attr':
                 buf.write(encode(c))
                 count -= 1
                 if count == 0:
-                    buf.write('=')
+                    buf.write(b'=')
                     state = 'get value length'
 
             elif state == 'get href length':