diff --git a/pyhs2/cursor.py b/pyhs2/cursor.py
index 32dc76a..9d7ff8d 100644
--- a/pyhs2/cursor.py
+++ b/pyhs2/cursor.py
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ def fetchone(self):
 
         # return the first record
         self._cursorLock.release()
-        return self._currentBlock[0]
+        return [val.decode('utf-8') if isinstance(val, str) else val for val in self._currentBlock[0]]
 
     def fetchmany(self,size=-1):
         """ return a sequential set of records. This is guaranteed by locking,