diff --git a/CoreFoundation.py b/CoreFoundation.py
index af3e643..d737503 100644
--- a/CoreFoundation.py
+++ b/CoreFoundation.py
@@ -466,7 +466,7 @@ def CFTypeTo(value):
 		bufsize = CFStringGetMaximumSizeForEncoding(l, kCFStringEncodingUTF8) + 1
 		buf = create_string_buffer(bufsize)
 		CFStringGetCString(value, buf, bufsize, kCFStringEncodingUTF8)
-		retval = buf.value
+		retval = buf.value.decode("utf8")
 	elif typeid == CFDataGetTypeID():
 		retval = string_at(CFDataGetBytePtr(value), CFDataGetLength(value))
 
diff --git a/afcroot.py b/afcroot.py
index e14a182..71c49b9 100644
--- a/afcroot.py
+++ b/afcroot.py
@@ -28,8 +28,11 @@
 
 class AFCRoot(AFC):
 	def __init__(self, amdevice):
-		s = amdevice.start_service(u'com.apple.afc2')
+		try:
+			s = amdevice.start_service(u'com.apple.afc2')
+		except RuntimeError:
+			s = amdevice.start_service(u'com.apple.afc')
 		if s is None:
-			raise RuntimeError(u'Unable to launch:', u'com.apple.afc2')
+			raise RuntimeError(u'Unable to launch:', u'com.apple.afc / com.apple.afc2')
 		AFC.__init__(self, s)