1 files changed, 1 insertions, 1 deletions
diff --git a/numpy/ma/core.py b/numpy/ma/core.py
index ab4364706..09db76e32 100644
--- a/numpy/ma/core.py
+++ b/numpy/ma/core.py
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ default_filler = {'b': True,
                   'O': '?',
                   'S': b'N/A',
                   'u': 999999,
-                  'V': '???',
+                  'V': b'???',
                   'U': u'N/A'
                   }