diff --git a/tests/test_www/test_util.py b/tests/test_www/test_util.py
index b6b9c576..de1e37f3 100644
--- a/tests/test_www/test_util.py
+++ b/tests/test_www/test_util.py
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ class TestFormatMode(unittest.TestCase):
         )
 
         for input, output in formats:
-            self.assertEqual(formatLink(input), output)
+            self.assertEqual(str(formatLink(input)), output)
 
     def test_escape_html(self):
         tests = (
diff --git a/www/lib/kojiweb/util.py b/www/lib/kojiweb/util.py
index c5296e9e..31141af2 100644
--- a/www/lib/kojiweb/util.py
+++ b/www/lib/kojiweb/util.py
@@ -898,7 +898,7 @@ def _parse_value(key, value, sep=', '):
     if key in ('brootid', 'buildroot_id'):
         # do the escaping ourselves since we include html
         need_escape = False
-        brid = urllib.parse.quote(value)
+        brid = urllib.parse.quote(str(value))
         _str = escapeHTML(value)
         begin_tag = '<a href="buildrootinfo?buildrootID=%s">' % brid
         end_tag = '</a>'