diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8d51467..c409c37 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -3,6 +3,16 @@ APC Network Power Management Controller
 
 Payton Quackenbush
 
+---
+
+**NOTE**: as of 2017, this project has been [replaced by Sebastien Celles' APC](https://github.com/scls19fr/APC).  
+
+Please see the _NEW_ version of the Python APC project here:  
+- https://github.com/scls19fr/APC
+- This contains outlet status, better Python integration, and other improvements.
+
+---
+
 [![Build Status](https://travis-ci.org/quackenbush/APC.svg?branch=master)](https://travis-ci.org/quackenbush/APC)
 
 Controls rebooting of APC network PDU switches with 'telnet' network interface.
diff --git a/apc.py b/apc.py
index 5633e43..fcc3d59 100755
--- a/apc.py
+++ b/apc.py
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ def connect(self):
 
         header = self.child.before
 
-        match = APC_VERSION_PATTERN.search(header)
+        match = APC_VERSION_PATTERN.search(str(header))
 
         if not match:
             raise Exception('Could not parse APC version')