diff --git a/frappe/__init__.py b/frappe/__init__.py
index a4c721c8ab..c3d5d1aacd 100644
--- a/frappe/__init__.py
+++ b/frappe/__init__.py
@@ -576,7 +576,7 @@ def generate_hash(txt=None, length=None):
 	"""Generates random hash for given text + current timestamp + random string."""
 	import hashlib, time
 	from .utils import random_string
-	digest = hashlib.sha224((txt or "") + repr(time.time()) + repr(random_string(8))).hexdigest()
+	digest = hashlib.sha224(((txt or "") + repr(time.time()) + repr(random_string(8))).encode()).hexdigest()
 	if length:
 		digest = digest[:length]
 	return digest