diff --git a/bump/init.py b/bump/init.py
index 7ca01d2..46ed25f 100644
--- a/bump/init.py
+++ b/bump/init.py
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ def store(key, value):
             f.write(bytes(value, "UTF-8"))
         except:
             # py2
-            f.write(value)
+            f.write(value.encode("UTF-8"))
 
 
 def retrieve(key):