diff --git a/src/wormhole/wormhole.py b/src/wormhole/wormhole.py
index 7522f8d..311e3fc 100644
--- a/src/wormhole/wormhole.py
+++ b/src/wormhole/wormhole.py
@@ -231,10 +231,10 @@ def create(appid, relay_url, reactor, # use keyword args for everything else
         w = _DeferredWormhole(eq)
     wormhole_versions = {} # will be used to indicate Wormhole capabilities
     wormhole_versions["app_versions"] = versions # app-specific capabilities
-    if type(__version__) == str:
-        client_version = ("python", __version__)
-    else:
-        client_version = ("python", __version__.decode("utf-8", errors="replace"))
+    v = __version__
+    if isinstance(v, type(b"")):
+        v = v.decode("utf-8", errors="replace")
+    client_version = ("python", v)
     b = Boss(w, side, relay_url, appid, wormhole_versions, client_version,
                 reactor, journal, tor, timing)
     w._set_boss(b)