diff --git a/pre_commit_hooks/check_vcs_permalinks.py b/pre_commit_hooks/check_vcs_permalinks.py
index 139b41a..f0dcf5b 100644
--- a/pre_commit_hooks/check_vcs_permalinks.py
+++ b/pre_commit_hooks/check_vcs_permalinks.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import sys
 
 
 GITHUB_NON_PERMALINK = re.compile(
-    b'https://github.com/[^/ ]+/[^/ ]+/blob/master/[^# ]+#L\d+',
+    br'https://github.com/[^/ ]+/[^/ ]+/blob/master/[^# ]+#L\d+',
 )