diff --git a/tests/test_json_token_file_cache.py b/tests/test_json_token_file_cache.py
index 3d4a7bf..57b732d 100644
--- a/tests/test_json_token_file_cache.py
+++ b/tests/test_json_token_file_cache.py
@@ -15,11 +15,11 @@ def token_cache(request):
 
 def test_add_bearer_tokens(token_cache):
     expiry_in_1_hour = datetime.datetime.utcnow() + datetime.timedelta(hours=1)
-    token1 = jwt.encode({"exp": expiry_in_1_hour}, "secret").decode("unicode_escape")
+    token1 = jwt.encode({"exp": expiry_in_1_hour}, "secret")
     token_cache.add_bearer_token("key1", token1)
 
     expiry_in_2_hour = datetime.datetime.utcnow() + datetime.timedelta(hours=2)
-    token2 = jwt.encode({"exp": expiry_in_2_hour}, "secret").decode("unicode_escape")
+    token2 = jwt.encode({"exp": expiry_in_2_hour}, "secret")
     token_cache.add_bearer_token("key2", token2)
 
     # Assert that tokens can be retrieved properly even after other token were inserted
@@ -33,11 +33,11 @@ def test_add_bearer_tokens(token_cache):
 
 def test_save_bearer_tokens(token_cache, request):
     expiry_in_1_hour = datetime.datetime.utcnow() + datetime.timedelta(hours=1)
-    token1 = jwt.encode({"exp": expiry_in_1_hour}, "secret").decode("unicode_escape")
+    token1 = jwt.encode({"exp": expiry_in_1_hour}, "secret")
     token_cache.add_bearer_token("key1", token1)
 
     expiry_in_2_hour = datetime.datetime.utcnow() + datetime.timedelta(hours=2)
-    token2 = jwt.encode({"exp": expiry_in_2_hour}, "secret").decode("unicode_escape")
+    token2 = jwt.encode({"exp": expiry_in_2_hour}, "secret")
     token_cache.add_bearer_token("key2", token2)
 
     same_cache = requests_auth.JsonTokenFileCache(request.node.name + ".cache")
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ def failing_dump(*args):
     monkeypatch.setattr(requests_auth.oauth2_tokens.json, "dump", failing_dump)
 
     expiry_in_1_hour = datetime.datetime.utcnow() + datetime.timedelta(hours=1)
-    token1 = jwt.encode({"exp": expiry_in_1_hour}, "secret").decode("unicode_escape")
+    token1 = jwt.encode({"exp": expiry_in_1_hour}, "secret")
 
     # Assert that the exception is not thrown
     token_cache.add_bearer_token("key1", token1)
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ def test_missing_token(token_cache):
 
 def test_missing_token_function(token_cache):
     expiry_in_1_hour = datetime.datetime.utcnow() + datetime.timedelta(hours=1)
-    token = jwt.encode({"exp": expiry_in_1_hour}, "secret").decode("unicode_escape")
+    token = jwt.encode({"exp": expiry_in_1_hour}, "secret")
     retrieved_token = token_cache.get_token(
         "key1", on_missing_token=lambda: ("key1", token)
     )
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ def test_missing_token_function(token_cache):
 def test_token_without_refresh_token(token_cache):
     expiry_in_1_hour = datetime.datetime.utcnow() + datetime.timedelta(hours=1)
     # add token without refresh token
-    token = jwt.encode({"exp": expiry_in_1_hour}, "secret").decode("unicode_escape")
+    token = jwt.encode({"exp": expiry_in_1_hour}, "secret")
     token_cache.tokens["key1"] = (
         token,
         expiry_in_1_hour.replace(tzinfo=datetime.timezone.utc).timestamp(),