Index: lldb/trunk/packages/Python/lldbsuite/test_event/dotest_channels.py
===================================================================
--- lldb/trunk/packages/Python/lldbsuite/test_event/dotest_channels.py
+++ lldb/trunk/packages/Python/lldbsuite/test_event/dotest_channels.py
@@ -59,8 +59,7 @@
         # the initiators of the socket to await this to ensure
         # that this end is up and running (and therefore already
         # into the async map).
-        ack_bytes = bytearray()
-        ack_bytes.append(chr(42))
+        ack_bytes = b'*'
         file_object.send(ack_bytes)
 
     def deserialize_payload(self):
Index: lldb/trunk/packages/Python/lldbsuite/test_event/formatter/__init__.py
===================================================================
--- lldb/trunk/packages/Python/lldbsuite/test_event/formatter/__init__.py
+++ lldb/trunk/packages/Python/lldbsuite/test_event/formatter/__init__.py
@@ -40,9 +40,6 @@
         self.cleanup_func = cleanup_func
 
 
-SOCKET_ACK_BYTE_VALUE = b'*'  # ASCII for chr(42)
-
-
 def create_results_formatter(config):
     """Sets up a test results formatter.
 
@@ -78,7 +75,7 @@
         # listener socket gets spun up; otherwise,
         # we lose the test result info.
         read_bytes = sock.recv(1)
-        if read_bytes is None or (len(read_bytes) < 1) or (read_bytes[0] != SOCKET_ACK_BYTE_VALUE):
+        if read_bytes is None or (len(read_bytes) < 1) or (read_bytes != b'*'):
             raise Exception("listening socket did not respond with ack byte: response={}".format(read_bytes))
 
         return sock, lambda: socket_closer(sock)