diff --git a/lambdas/service/app.py b/lambdas/service/app.py
index ff28052173..ecac27bd90 100644
--- a/lambdas/service/app.py
+++ b/lambdas/service/app.py
@@ -1274,7 +1274,7 @@ def get_summary():
 
 
 def manifest_route(*, fetch: bool, method: str):
-    initiate = method in ['PUT', 'POST']
+    initiate = method in {'PUT', 'POST'}
     return app.route(
         # The path parameter could be a token *or* an object key, but we don't
         # want to complicate the API with this detail
@@ -1549,7 +1549,7 @@ def fetch_file_manifest_with_token(token: str):
 
 def _file_manifest(fetch: bool, token_or_key: Optional[str] = None):
     request = app.current_request
-    require(request.method != 'POST' or request.raw_body.decode() == '',
+    require(request.method != 'POST' or request.raw_body == b'',
             'The body must be empty for a POST request to this endpoint.')
     query_params = request.query_params or {}
     _hoist_parameters(query_params, request)