diff --git a/electrumx/server/db.py b/electrumx/server/db.py
index 6f55a2a..3ee5103 100644
--- a/electrumx/server/db.py
+++ b/electrumx/server/db.py
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ class DB(object):
             os.mkdir('meta')
             with util.open_file('COIN', create=True) as f:
                 f.write(f'ElectrumX databases and metadata for '
-                        f'{self.coin.NAME} {self.coin.NET}')
+                        f'{self.coin.NAME} {self.coin.NET}'.encode())
             if not self.coin.STATIC_BLOCK_HEADERS:
                 self.headers_offsets_file.write(0, bytes(8))
         else:
diff --git a/tests/server/test_compaction.py b/tests/server/test_compaction.py
index 2d051d1..f9c9eb6 100644
--- a/tests/server/test_compaction.py
+++ b/tests/server/test_compaction.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 # Test of compaction code in server/history.py
 
 import array
+import asyncio
 from collections import defaultdict
 from os import environ, urandom
 from struct import pack
@@ -109,13 +110,15 @@ def compact_history(history):
         write_size += history._compact_history(limit)
     assert write_size != 0
 
-def run_test(db_dir):
+async def run_test(db_dir):
     environ.clear()
     environ['DB_DIRECTORY'] = db_dir
     environ['DAEMON_URL'] = ''
     environ['COIN'] = 'BitcoinCash'
-    env = Env()
-    history = DB(env).history
+    db = DB(Env())
+    await db.open_for_serving()
+    history = db.history
+
     # Test abstract compaction
     check_hashX_compaction(history)
     # Now test in with random data
@@ -127,4 +130,5 @@ def run_test(db_dir):
 def test_compaction(tmpdir):
     db_dir = str(tmpdir)
     print('Temp dir: {}'.format(db_dir))
-    run_test(db_dir)
+    loop = asyncio.get_event_loop()
+    loop.run_until_complete(run_test(db_dir))