diff --git a/bin/qp_convert_h5_to_ezfio b/bin/qp_convert_h5_to_ezfio
index 61a691c4..8b7c038d 100755
--- a/bin/qp_convert_h5_to_ezfio
+++ b/bin/qp_convert_h5_to_ezfio
@@ -76,6 +76,8 @@ def convert_mol(filename,qph5path):
     
     ezfio.set_nuclei_nucl_charge(nucl_charge)
     ezfio.set_nuclei_nucl_coord(nucl_coord)
+    if isinstance(nucl_label[0],bytes):
+        nucl_label = list(map(lambda x:x.decode(),nucl_label))
     ezfio.set_nuclei_nucl_label(nucl_label)
     
     ezfio.set_nuclei_io_nuclear_repulsion('Read')