diff --git a/apk.py b/apk.py
index aa35731..62fefa1 100644
--- a/apk.py
+++ b/apk.py
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ def __init__(self, filename, raw=False, mode="r", magic_file=None, zipmodule=ZIP
                                                                                              "versionName")
 
                     for item in self.xml[i].getElementsByTagName('uses-permission'):
-                        self.permissions.append(str(item.getAttributeNS(NS_ANDROID_URI, "name")))
+                        self.permissions.append("%s" % (item.getAttributeNS(NS_ANDROID_URI, "name")))
 
                     self.valid_apk = True
 
@@ -394,7 +394,7 @@ def get_elements(self, tag_name, attribute):
                 value = item.getAttributeNS(NS_ANDROID_URI, attribute)
                 value = self.format_value(value)
 
-                l.append(str(value))
+                l.append("%s" % value)
         return l
 
     def format_value(self, value):