diff --git a/kcc.py b/kcc.py
index 0b3f966..9b4916d 100644
--- a/kcc.py
+++ b/kcc.py
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ class QApplicationMessaging(QtGui.QApplication):
     def handleMessage(self):
         socket = self._server.nextPendingConnection()
         if socket.waitForReadyRead(self._timeout):
-            self.emit(QtCore.SIGNAL('messageFromOtherInstance'), socket.readAll().data())
+            self.emit(QtCore.SIGNAL('messageFromOtherInstance'), socket.readAll().data().decode('utf8'))
 
     def sendMessage(self, message):
         if self.isRunning():
diff --git a/kcc/KCC_gui.py b/kcc/KCC_gui.py
index 568292b..ffdda89 100644
--- a/kcc/KCC_gui.py
+++ b/kcc/KCC_gui.py
@@ -631,6 +631,7 @@ class Ui_KCC(object):
 
     def handleMessage(self, message):
         MainWindow.raise_()
+        MainWindow.activateWindow()
         if not self.conversionAlive:
             if self.needClean:
                 self.needClean = False