diff --git a/gearman/connection.py b/gearman/connection.py
index bbebaed..437c31d 100644
--- a/gearman/connection.py
+++ b/gearman/connection.py
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ def read_data_from_socket(self, bytes_to_read=4096):
                 recv_buffer += self.gearman_socket.recv(remaining)
                 remaining = self.gearman_socket.pending()
 
-        self._incoming_buffer.fromstring(recv_buffer)
+        self._incoming_buffer.frombytes(recv_buffer)
         return len(self._incoming_buffer)
 
     def _unpack_command(self, given_buffer):