diff --git a/api/search/fetch_data.py b/api/search/fetch_data.py
index 26db8917b..522717513 100644
--- a/api/search/fetch_data.py
+++ b/api/search/fetch_data.py
@@ -112,9 +112,9 @@ def update_profiles():
         print_status_bar(ix+1, len(names_to_insert))
         profile_entry = {}
         profile_entry['fqu'] = name
-
         try:
-            profile_entry['profile'] = get_profile(name, use_legacy = True)['profile']
+            profile_resp = get_profile(name, use_legacy = True)
+            profile_entry['profile'] = profile_resp['profile']
             updated_profiles[name] = (profile_entry)
             actually_updated_names.add(name)
         except KeyboardInterrupt as e:
diff --git a/blockstack_client/profile.py b/blockstack_client/profile.py
index 2709cf7b3..d209b5848 100644
--- a/blockstack_client/profile.py
+++ b/blockstack_client/profile.py
@@ -202,13 +202,13 @@ def get_profile(name, zonefile_storage_drivers=None, profile_storage_drivers=Non
     and then loading the profile from that zonefile's public key.
 
     Notes on backwards compatibility (activated if use_legacy=True and use_legacy_zonefile=True):
-    
+
     * (use_legacy=True) If the user's zonefile is really a legacy profile from Onename, then
     the profile returned will be the converted legacy profile.  The returned zonefile will still
     be a legacy profile, however.
     The caller can check this and perform the conversion automatically.
 
-    * (use_legacy_zonefile=True) If the name points to a current zonefile that does not have a 
+    * (use_legacy_zonefile=True) If the name points to a current zonefile that does not have a
     data public key, then the owner address of the name will be used to verify
     the profile's authenticity.
 
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ def get_profile(name, zonefile_storage_drivers=None, profile_storage_drivers=Non
 
     proxy = get_default_proxy() if proxy is None else proxy
 
-    res = subdomains.is_address_subdomain(name)
+    res = subdomains.is_address_subdomain(str(name))
     if res:
         subdomain, domain = res[1]
         try:
diff --git a/blockstack_client/subdomains.py b/blockstack_client/subdomains.py
index d7db6612e..71ebaeb9d 100644
--- a/blockstack_client/subdomains.py
+++ b/blockstack_client/subdomains.py
@@ -376,7 +376,8 @@ def parse_zonefile_subdomains(domain, zonefile_json):
 
 def is_address_subdomain(fqa):
     """
-    Tests whether fqa is a subdomain. 
+    Tests whether fqa is a subdomain.
+    @fqa must be a string
     If it isn't, returns False.
     If it is, returns True and a tuple (subdomain_name, domain)
     """