diff --git a/utils/story_functions.py b/utils/story_functions.py
index ed221e44d..1e92fa89e 100644
--- a/utils/story_functions.py
+++ b/utils/story_functions.py
@@ -277,8 +277,8 @@ def truncate_chars(value, max_length):
         return value.decode('utf-8', 'ignore')
  
     truncd_val = value[:max_length]
-    if value[max_length] != " ":
-        rightmost_space = truncd_val.rfind(" ")
+    if value[max_length].decode() != " ":
+        rightmost_space = truncd_val.rfind(b" ")
         if rightmost_space != -1:
             truncd_val = truncd_val[:rightmost_space]