diff --git a/server_pool.py b/server_pool.py
index b96bfeb..fcf6caf 100644
--- a/server_pool.py
+++ b/server_pool.py
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ class ServerPool(object):
 			else:
 				a_config = self.config.copy()
 				a_config.update(user_config)
-				if len(a_config['server_ipv6']) > 2 and a_config['server_ipv6'][0] == "[" and a_config['server_ipv6'][-1] == "]":
+				if len(a_config['server_ipv6']) > 2 and a_config['server_ipv6'][0] == b"[" and a_config['server_ipv6'][-1] == b"]":
 					a_config['server_ipv6'] = a_config['server_ipv6'][1:-1]
 				a_config['server'] = common.to_str(a_config['server_ipv6'])
 				a_config['server_port'] = port
diff --git a/shadowsocks/server.py b/shadowsocks/server.py
index 9af80d7..dced0a3 100755
--- a/shadowsocks/server.py
+++ b/shadowsocks/server.py
@@ -108,8 +108,8 @@ def main():
                      (protocol, password, method, obfs, obfs_param))
         if 'server_ipv6' in a_config:
             try:
-                if len(a_config['server_ipv6']) > 2 and a_config['server_ipv6'][0] == "[" and a_config['server_ipv6'][
-                    -1] == "]":
+                if len(a_config['server_ipv6']) > 2 and a_config['server_ipv6'][0] == b"[" and a_config['server_ipv6'][
+                    -1] == b"]":
                     a_config['server_ipv6'] = a_config['server_ipv6'][1:-1]
                 a_config['server_port'] = int(port)
                 a_config['password'] = password