diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index 21b5c5f3..dd17580a 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+* #2299: Really fix buddy properties coming through as arrays of bytes (dcbw)
+
 Snapshot b24a28a77d
 
 * #2012: Fix palette position on the left frame panel. (marco)
diff --git a/sugar/presence/buddy.py b/sugar/presence/buddy.py
index ef283dff..809748f3 100644
--- a/sugar/presence/buddy.py
+++ b/sugar/presence/buddy.py
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ class Buddy(gobject.GObject):
     def _get_properties_helper(self):
         """Retrieve the Buddy's property dictionary from the service object
         """
-        props = self._buddy.GetProperties()
+        props = self._buddy.GetProperties(byte_arrays=True)
         if not props:
             return {}
         return props