diff --git a/IPython/html/base/zmqhandlers.py b/IPython/html/base/zmqhandlers.py
index f1159e830..5ddb5d27e 100644
--- a/IPython/html/base/zmqhandlers.py
+++ b/IPython/html/base/zmqhandlers.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import os
 import json
 import struct
 import warnings
+import sys
 
 try:
     from urllib.parse import urlparse # Py 3
@@ -43,6 +44,8 @@ def serialize_binary_message(msg):
     # don't modify msg or buffer list in-place
     msg = msg.copy()
     buffers = list(msg.pop('buffers'))
+    if sys.version_info < (3, 4):
+        buffers = [x.tobytes() for x in buffers]
     bmsg = json.dumps(msg, default=date_default).encode('utf8')
     buffers.insert(0, bmsg)
     nbufs = len(buffers)
diff --git a/IPython/html/tests/test_serialize.py b/IPython/html/tests/test_serialize.py
index 7a88b29f4..9d45d6bc8 100644
--- a/IPython/html/tests/test_serialize.py
+++ b/IPython/html/tests/test_serialize.py
@@ -13,14 +13,14 @@ from ..base.zmqhandlers import (
 def test_serialize_binary():
     s = Session()
     msg = s.msg('data_pub', content={'a': 'b'})
-    msg['buffers'] = [ os.urandom(3) for i in range(3) ]
+    msg['buffers'] = [ memoryview(os.urandom(3)) for i in range(3) ]
     bmsg = serialize_binary_message(msg)
     nt.assert_is_instance(bmsg, bytes)
 
 def test_deserialize_binary():
     s = Session()
     msg = s.msg('data_pub', content={'a': 'b'})
-    msg['buffers'] = [ os.urandom(2) for i in range(3) ]
+    msg['buffers'] = [ memoryview(os.urandom(2)) for i in range(3) ]
     bmsg = serialize_binary_message(msg)
     msg2 = deserialize_binary_message(bmsg)
     nt.assert_equal(msg2, msg)