diff --git a/onionr/api.py b/onionr/api.py
index afebf1ee..1ef3f7fe 100755
--- a/onionr/api.py
+++ b/onionr/api.py
@@ -211,12 +211,10 @@ class API:
             elif action == 'getData':
                 resp = ''
                 if self._utils.validateHash(data):
-                    if os.path.exists('data/blocks/' + data + '.db'):
-                        try:
-                            block = Block(data, core=self._core)()
-                            resp = base64.b64encode(block.getRaw())
-                        except TypeError:
-                            resp = ""
+                    if not os.path.exists('data/blocks/' + data + '.db'):
+                        block = Block(data.encode(), core=self._core)
+                        resp = base64.b64encode(block.getRaw()).decode()
+
                 if len(resp) == 0:
                     abort(404)
                     resp = ""
diff --git a/onionr/onionrblockapi.py b/onionr/onionrblockapi.py
index 6dc9029a..335d6d23 100644
--- a/onionr/onionrblockapi.py
+++ b/onionr/onionrblockapi.py
@@ -96,8 +96,10 @@ class Block:
                 if filelocation is None:
                     if self.getHash() is None:
                         return False
-
-                    filelocation = 'data/blocks/%s.dat' % self.getHash()
+                    try:
+                        filelocation = 'data/blocks/%s.dat' % self.getHash().decode()
+                    except AttributeError:
+                        filelocation = 'data/blocks/%s.dat' % self.getHash()
 
                 with open(filelocation, 'rb') as f:
                     blockdata = f.read().decode('utf-8')