diff --git a/direct/src/distributed/AstronInternalRepository.py b/direct/src/distributed/AstronInternalRepository.py
index ba06142a9f5..4b2f8446295 100644
--- a/direct/src/distributed/AstronInternalRepository.py
+++ b/direct/src/distributed/AstronInternalRepository.py
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ def addPostRemove(self, dg):
         dg2 = PyDatagram()
         dg2.addServerControlHeader(CONTROL_ADD_POST_REMOVE)
         dg2.addUint64(self.ourChannel)
-        dg2.addString(dg.getMessage())
+        dg2.appendData(dg.getMessage())
         self.send(dg2)
 
     def clearPostRemove(self):