diff --git a/config/kube_config.py b/config/kube_config.py
index 671d370f..5e9c4ab1 100644
--- a/config/kube_config.py
+++ b/config/kube_config.py
@@ -100,8 +100,12 @@ def as_file(self):
         use_data_if_no_file = not self._file and self._data
         if use_data_if_no_file:
             if self._base64_file_content:
+                if isinstance(self._data, str):
+                    content = self._data.encode()
+                else:
+                    content = self._data
                 self._file = _create_temp_file_with_content(
-                    base64.decodestring(self._data.encode()))
+                    base64.decodestring(content))
             else:
                 self._file = _create_temp_file_with_content(self._data)
         if self._file and not os.path.isfile(self._file):
diff --git a/config/kube_config_test.py b/config/kube_config_test.py
index cd64f91b..84fb38ae 100644
--- a/config/kube_config_test.py
+++ b/config/kube_config_test.py
@@ -201,6 +201,18 @@ def test_create_temp_file_with_content(self):
                              _create_temp_file_with_content(TEST_DATA)))
         _cleanup_temp_files()
 
+    def test_file_given_data_bytes(self):
+        obj = {TEST_DATA_KEY: TEST_DATA_BASE64.encode()}
+        t = FileOrData(obj=obj, file_key_name=TEST_FILE_KEY,
+                       data_key_name=TEST_DATA_KEY)
+        self.assertEqual(TEST_DATA, self.get_file_content(t.as_file()))
+
+    def test_file_given_data_bytes_no_base64(self):
+        obj = {TEST_DATA_KEY: TEST_DATA.encode()}
+        t = FileOrData(obj=obj, file_key_name=TEST_FILE_KEY,
+                       data_key_name=TEST_DATA_KEY, base64_file_content=False)
+        self.assertEqual(TEST_DATA, self.get_file_content(t.as_file()))
+
 
 class TestConfigNode(BaseTestCase):