1 files changed, 6 insertions, 4 deletions
diff --git a/cloudinit/mergers/m_str.py b/cloudinit/mergers/m_str.py
index e22ce28a..b00c4bf3 100644
--- a/cloudinit/mergers/m_str.py
+++ b/cloudinit/mergers/m_str.py
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 # along with this program. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
+import six
+
 
 class Merger(object):
     def __init__(self, _merger, opts):
@@ -34,11 +36,11 @@ class Merger(object):
     # perform the following action, if appending we will
     # merge them together, otherwise we will just return value.
     def _on_str(self, value, merge_with):
-        if not isinstance(value, (basestring)):
+        if not isinstance(value, six.string_types):
             return merge_with
         if not self._append:
             return merge_with
-        if isinstance(value, unicode):
-            return value + unicode(merge_with)
+        if isinstance(value, six.text_type):
+            return value + six.text_type(merge_with)
         else:
-            return value + str(merge_with)
+            return value + six.binary_type(merge_with)