diff --git a/lbrynet/core/BlobManager.py b/lbrynet/core/BlobManager.py
index 903614b22..be425b06e 100644
--- a/lbrynet/core/BlobManager.py
+++ b/lbrynet/core/BlobManager.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import logging
 import os
+from binascii import unhexlify
 from sqlite3 import IntegrityError
 from twisted.internet import threads, defer
 from lbrynet.blob.blob_file import BlobFile
@@ -60,7 +61,7 @@ class DiskBlobManager:
             blob.blob_hash, blob.length, next_announce_time, should_announce
         )
         if self._node_datastore is not None:
-            self._node_datastore.completed_blobs.add(blob.blob_hash.decode('hex'))
+            self._node_datastore.completed_blobs.add(unhexlify(blob.blob_hash))
 
     def completed_blobs(self, blobhashes_to_check):
         return self._completed_blobs(blobhashes_to_check)