diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/discussion/rest_api/tests/test_views.py b/lms/djangoapps/discussion/rest_api/tests/test_views.py
index 673f08ca7f6ade46b315d829ea2f0a6ef401f128..348d95ea32cbd922b81743ffcf23903bf4c92e16 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/discussion/rest_api/tests/test_views.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/discussion/rest_api/tests/test_views.py
@@ -2041,7 +2041,7 @@ class CourseDiscussionSettingsAPIViewTest(APITestCase, UrlResetMixin, ModuleStor
     def test_empty_body_patch_request(self):
         """Test the response status code on sending a PATCH request with an empty body or missing fields."""
         self._login_as_staff()
-        response = self.patch_request(b"")
+        response = self.patch_request("")
         self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 400)
 
         response = self.patch_request({})