diff --git a/src/python/dm/common/utility/ldapLinuxPlatformUtility.py b/src/python/dm/common/utility/ldapLinuxPlatformUtility.py
index 74f1d17e1a8518b3f774d655dd6cf2a11feeda53..0589bab8143eda2fcacba5125bc56d1f33a6af33 100755
--- a/src/python/dm/common/utility/ldapLinuxPlatformUtility.py
+++ b/src/python/dm/common/utility/ldapLinuxPlatformUtility.py
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@ class LdapLinuxPlatformUtility:
         """ Create group if it does not exist. """
         logger = self.getLogger()
         ldapClient = self.getLdapClient()
+        name = str(name)
         try:
             groupDn = self.groupDnFormat % name
             logger.debug('Looking for group DN: %s' % groupDn)
@@ -138,6 +139,8 @@ class LdapLinuxPlatformUtility:
         """ Add user to group. """
         logger = self.getLogger()
         ldapClient = self.getLdapClient()
+        username = str(username)
+        groupName = str(groupName)
         try:
             groupDn = self.groupDnFormat % groupName
             resultList = ldapClient.search_s(groupDn, ldap.SCOPE_BASE)
@@ -181,7 +184,7 @@ class LdapLinuxPlatformUtility:
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     utility = LdapLinuxPlatformUtility('ldaps://dmid-vm.xray.aps.anl.gov:636', 'uid=dmadmin,ou=People,o=aps.anl.gov,dc=aps,dc=anl,dc=gov', '/tmp/ldapPassword', groupDnFormat='cn=%s,ou=DM,ou=Group,o=aps.anl.gov,dc=aps,dc=anl,dc=gov', minGidNumber=66000)
-    utility.createGroup('exp2')
+    utility.createGroup(u'exp9')
     #utility.createGroup('dmgp000001_TOF')
-    utility.addUserToGroup('rs1', 'exp2')
+    utility.addUserToGroup(u'rs1', u'exp9')