diff --git a/src/rsmq/cmd/send_message.py b/src/rsmq/cmd/send_message.py
index c4a59bd..6e45032 100644
--- a/src/rsmq/cmd/send_message.py
+++ b/src/rsmq/cmd/send_message.py
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ def exec_command(self):
         delay = float(delay or 0)
 
         message = self.get_message
-        if self.get_encode or not isinstance(message, str):
+        if self.get_encode or not isinstance(message, (str, bytes)):
             message = encode_message(message)
             self.log.debug("Encoded message: %s", message)