diff --git a/src/socketio/async_aiopika_manager.py b/src/socketio/async_aiopika_manager.py
index 1485d37a..60be8877 100644
--- a/src/socketio/async_aiopika_manager.py
+++ b/src/socketio/async_aiopika_manager.py
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ async def _publish(self, data):
             try:
                 await self.publisher_exchange.publish(
                     aio_pika.Message(
-                        body=json.dumps(data),
+                        body=json.dumps(data).encode(),
                         delivery_mode=aio_pika.DeliveryMode.PERSISTENT
                     ), routing_key='*',
                 )