diff --git a/chirp/drivers/vx2.py b/chirp/drivers/vx2.py
index 41ee3f4a9..62f765054 100644
--- a/chirp/drivers/vx2.py
+++ b/chirp/drivers/vx2.py
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ def get_memory_mappings(self, memory):
 
 
 def _wipe_memory(mem):
-    mem.set_raw("\x00" * (mem.size() // 8))
+    mem.set_raw(b"\x00" * (mem.size() // 8))
 
 
 @directory.register
diff --git a/chirp/drivers/vx3.py b/chirp/drivers/vx3.py
index 6cff08381..1951163db 100644
--- a/chirp/drivers/vx3.py
+++ b/chirp/drivers/vx3.py
@@ -342,7 +342,7 @@ def get_memory_mappings(self, memory):
 
 
 def _wipe_memory(mem):
-    mem.set_raw("\x00" * (mem.size() // 8))
+    mem.set_raw(b"\x00" * (mem.size() // 8))
     # the following settings are set to match the defaults
     # on the radio, some of these fields are unknown
     mem.name = [0xFF for _i in range(0, 6)]
diff --git a/chirp/drivers/vx7.py b/chirp/drivers/vx7.py
index 01b854343..ebe827354 100644
--- a/chirp/drivers/vx7.py
+++ b/chirp/drivers/vx7.py
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ def get_memory_mappings(self, memory):
 
 
 def _wipe_memory(mem):
-    mem.set_raw("\x00" * (mem.size() // 8))
+    mem.set_raw(b"\x00" * (mem.size() // 8))
     mem.unknown1 = 0x05
     mem.ones = 0x03
 
@@ -286,7 +286,7 @@ def get_memory(self, number):
             mem.power = levels[0]
 
         for i in _mem.name:
-            if i == "\xFF":
+            if i == 0xFF:
                 break
             mem.name += CHARSET[i]
         mem.name = mem.name.rstrip()