diff --git a/files/fimplate.py b/files/fimplate.py
index 90d8723..81b91f1 100755
--- a/files/fimplate.py
+++ b/files/fimplate.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env python
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
 import sys,re,os
 from argparse import ArgumentParser
 from argparse import RawTextHelpFormatter
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ def parse_file(filename):
                     filename, i+1, l,
                 ))
                 sys.exit(1)
-            pairs.append( (tokens[0], tokens[1].decode('string_escape')) )
+            pairs.append( (tokens[0], tokens[1]) )
     return pairs
 
 def parse_arguments(args):
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ def parse_arguments(args):
         if len(tokens) != 2:
             print("Argument key=value pair '%s' does not parse"%(p,))
             sys.exit(1)
-        pairs.append( (tokens[0], tokens[1].decode('string_escape')) )
+        pairs.append( (tokens[0], tokens[1]) )
     return pairs