diff --git a/dev_scripts/pylint_plugins.py b/dev_scripts/pylint_plugins.py
index f01942d8..8d6f87cc 100644
--- a/dev_scripts/pylint_plugins.py
+++ b/dev_scripts/pylint_plugins.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+import sys
+
 from astroid import MANAGER
 from astroid import scoped_nodes
 
@@ -23,18 +25,25 @@ def transform(mod):
                 if not text.strip():
                     return
 
-                text = text.split('\n')
+                text = text.split(b'\n')
                 # NOTE: doing it this way because the "correct" approach below does not
                 #       work. We can get away with this, because in well-formated WA files,
                 #       the initial line is the copyright header's blank line.
-                if 'pylint:' in text[0]:
+                if b'pylint:' in text[0]:
                     msg = 'pylint directive found on the first line of {}; please move to below copyright header'
                     raise RuntimeError(msg.format(mod.name))
-                if text[0].strip() and text[0][0] != '#':
+                if sys.version_info[0] == 3:
+                    char = chr(text[0][0])
+                else:
+                    char = text[0][0]
+                if text[0].strip() and char != '#':
                     msg = 'first line of {} is not a comment; is the copyright header missing?'
                     raise RuntimeError(msg.format(mod.name))
-                text[0] = '# pylint: disable={}'.format(','.join(errors))
-                mod.file_bytes = '\n'.join(text)
+                if sys.version_info[0] == 3:
+                    text[0] = '# pylint: disable={}'.format(','.join(errors)).encode('utf-8')
+                else:
+                    text[0] = '# pylint: disable={}'.format(','.join(errors))
+                mod.file_bytes = b'\n'.join(text)
 
                 # This is what *should* happen, but doesn't work.
                 # text.insert(0, '# pylint: disable=attribute-defined-outside-init')