diff --git a/eSSP/__init__.py b/eSSP/__init__.py
index d8b3b9f..0532ca8 100644
--- a/eSSP/__init__.py
+++ b/eSSP/__init__.py
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ class eSSP(object):
     
     def send_unpack(self, format_string, command, args=[], parse_status=True):
         resp = self.send(command, args, parse_status)
-        return struct.unpack(format_string, resp)
+        return struct.unpack(format_string, str(resp)) # py 2.7.3 struct workaround
 
     def read(self, parse_status=True):
         ''' Reads, parses and checks a single message from serial.