diff --git a/minio/api.py b/minio/api.py
index c5c281a58..653b004c1 100644
--- a/minio/api.py
+++ b/minio/api.py
@@ -626,7 +626,7 @@ def make_bucket(self, bucket_name, location=None, object_lock=False):
         if location != "us-east-1":
             element = Element("CreateBucketConfiguration")
             SubElement(element, "LocationConstraint", location)
-            body = marshal(element)
+            body = getbytes(element)
         self._url_open(
             "PUT",
             location,