diff --git a/check_syncrepl_extended b/check_syncrepl_extended
index d6361b4..31eb280 100755
--- a/check_syncrepl_extended
+++ b/check_syncrepl_extended
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ from ldap.controls import SimplePagedResultsControl
 from ldap import modlist
 
 VERSION = '0.0'
-TOUCH_VALUE = '%%TOUCH%%'
+TOUCH_VALUE = b'%%TOUCH%%'
 
 parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(
     description=(
@@ -204,10 +204,10 @@ parser.add_argument(
     type=str,
     help=(
         'Touch attribute giving in parameter to force resync a this LDAP '
-        f'object from provider. A value "{TOUCH_VALUE}" will be add to this '
-        'attribute and remove after. The user use to connect to the LDAP '
-        'directory must have write permission on this attribute on each '
-        'object.'
+        f'object from provider. A value "{TOUCH_VALUE.decode()}" will be '
+        'add to this attribute and remove after. The user use to connect '
+        'to the LDAP directory must have write permission on this '
+        'attribute on each object.'
     ),
     default=None
 )