diff --git a/bot/kodiak/entrypoints/ingest.py b/bot/kodiak/entrypoints/ingest.py
index 5ec687fea..493f05f23 100644
--- a/bot/kodiak/entrypoints/ingest.py
+++ b/bot/kodiak/entrypoints/ingest.py
@@ -41,9 +41,7 @@ async def get_redis() -> asyncio_redis.Pool:
         _redis = await asyncio_redis.Pool.create(
             host=conf.REDIS_URL.hostname or "localhost",
             port=conf.REDIS_URL.port or 6379,
-            password=(
-                conf.REDIS_URL.password.encode() if conf.REDIS_URL.password else None
-            ),
+            password=conf.REDIS_URL.password,
             # XXX: which var?
             poolsize=conf.USAGE_REPORTING_POOL_SIZE,
             ssl=conf.REDIS_URL.scheme == "rediss",
diff --git a/bot/kodiak/queue.py b/bot/kodiak/queue.py
index fadf09007..0117af239 100644
--- a/bot/kodiak/queue.py
+++ b/bot/kodiak/queue.py
@@ -238,9 +238,7 @@ async def get_redis() -> asyncio_redis.Pool:
         _redis = await asyncio_redis.Pool.create(
             host=conf.REDIS_URL.hostname or "localhost",
             port=conf.REDIS_URL.port or 6379,
-            password=(
-                conf.REDIS_URL.password.encode() if conf.REDIS_URL.password else None
-            ),
+            password=conf.REDIS_URL.password,
             poolsize=conf.USAGE_REPORTING_POOL_SIZE,
             encoder=asyncio_redis.encoders.BytesEncoder(),
             ssl=conf.REDIS_URL.scheme == "rediss",
diff --git a/bot/kodiak/redis_client.py b/bot/kodiak/redis_client.py
index 27a7b82b9..40cd7a190 100644
--- a/bot/kodiak/redis_client.py
+++ b/bot/kodiak/redis_client.py
@@ -13,9 +13,7 @@ async def create_connection() -> asyncio_redis.Connection:
     return await asyncio_redis.Connection.create(
         host=conf.REDIS_URL.hostname or "localhost",
         port=conf.REDIS_URL.port or 6379,
-        password=(
-            conf.REDIS_URL.password.encode() if conf.REDIS_URL.password else None
-        ),
+        password=conf.REDIS_URL.password,
         ssl=conf.REDIS_URL.scheme == "rediss",
         db=redis_db,
     )
diff --git a/bot/kodiak/test_queries.py b/bot/kodiak/test_queries.py
index ef46d3295..5539b8908 100644
--- a/bot/kodiak/test_queries.py
+++ b/bot/kodiak/test_queries.py
@@ -266,9 +266,7 @@ async def setup_redis(github_installation_id: str) -> None:
     r = await asyncio_redis.Connection.create(
         host=host,
         port=port,
-        password=(
-            conf.REDIS_URL.password.encode() if conf.REDIS_URL.password else None
-        ),
+        password=conf.REDIS_URL.password,
     )
     key = f"kodiak:subscription:{github_installation_id}"
     await r.hset(key, "account_id", "D1606A79-A1A1-4550-BA7B-C9ED0D792B1E")