diff --git a/nucypher/core.py b/nucypher/core.py
index 7f879a29c..93ac1c701 100644
--- a/nucypher/core.py
+++ b/nucypher/core.py
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ signature_splitter = BytestringSplitter((Signature, Signature.serialized_size())
 capsule_splitter = BytestringSplitter((Capsule, Capsule.serialized_size()))
 cfrag_splitter = BytestringSplitter((CapsuleFrag, CapsuleFrag.serialized_size()))
 kfrag_splitter = BytestringSplitter((KeyFrag, KeyFrag.serialized_size()))
-checksum_address_splitter = BytestringSplitter((bytes, ETH_ADDRESS_BYTE_LENGTH)) # TODO: is there a pre-defined constant?
+checksum_address_splitter = BytestringSplitter((to_checksum_address, ETH_ADDRESS_BYTE_LENGTH)) # TODO: is there a pre-defined constant?
 
 
 class MessageKit(Versioned):
@@ -106,8 +106,8 @@ class MessageKit(Versioned):
     @classmethod
     def _from_bytes_current(cls, data):
         splitter = BytestringSplitter(capsule_splitter, VariableLengthBytestring)
-        capsule, ciphertext = splitter(data)
-        return cls(capsule, ciphertext)
+        capsule, ciphertext, remainder = splitter(data, return_remainder=True)
+        return cls(capsule, ciphertext), remainder
 
 
 class HRAC:
@@ -199,8 +199,8 @@ class AuthorizedKeyFrag(Versioned):
     @classmethod
     def _from_bytes_current(cls, data):
         splitter = BytestringSplitter(signature_splitter, kfrag_splitter)
-        signature, kfrag = splitter(data)
-        return cls(signature, kfrag)
+        signature, kfrag, remainder = splitter(data, return_remainder=True)
+        return cls(signature, kfrag), remainder
 
     def verify(self,
                hrac: HRAC,
@@ -223,6 +223,8 @@ class AuthorizedKeyFrag(Versioned):
 
 class EncryptedKeyFrag:
 
+    _splitter = BytestringSplitter(capsule_splitter, VariableLengthBytestring)
+
     @classmethod
     def author(cls, recipient_key: PublicKey, authorized_kfrag: AuthorizedKeyFrag):
         # TODO: using Umbral for encryption to avoid introducing more crypto primitives.
@@ -242,11 +244,13 @@ class EncryptedKeyFrag:
     def __bytes__(self):
         return bytes(self.capsule) + bytes(VariableLengthBytestring(self.ciphertext))
 
+    # Ideally we would define a splitter here that would deserialize into an EKF,
+    # but due to BSS limitations it cannot be nested (since it doesn't have a definite size).
+    # So we have to define this helper method and use that instead.
     @classmethod
-    def from_bytes(cls, data):
-        splitter = BytestringSplitter(capsule_splitter, VariableLengthBytestring)
-        capsule, ciphertext = splitter(data)
-        return cls(capsule, ciphertext)
+    def take(cls, data):
+        capsule, ciphertext, remainder = cls._splitter(data, return_remainder=True)
+        return cls(capsule, ciphertext), remainder
 
     def __eq__(self, other):
         return self.capsule == other.capsule and self.ciphertext == other.ciphertext
@@ -331,11 +335,16 @@ class TreasureMap(Versioned):
 
     def _payload(self) -> bytes:
         """Returns the unversioned bytes serialized representation of this instance."""
+        assigned_kfrags = b''.join(
+            to_canonical_address(ursula_address) + bytes(encrypted_kfrag)
+            for ursula_address, encrypted_kfrag in self.destinations.items()
+            )
+
         return (self.threshold.to_bytes(1, "big") +
                 bytes(self.hrac) +
                 bytes(self.policy_encrypting_key) +
                 bytes(self.publisher_verifying_key) +
-                self._nodes_as_bytes())
+                bytes(VariableLengthBytestring(assigned_kfrags)))
 
     @classmethod
     def _from_bytes_current(cls, data):
@@ -345,20 +354,18 @@ class TreasureMap(Versioned):
             hrac_splitter,
             key_splitter,
             key_splitter,
+            VariableLengthBytestring,
         )
 
-        ursula_and_kfrag_payload_splitter = BytestringSplitter(
-            (to_checksum_address, ETH_ADDRESS_BYTE_LENGTH),
-            (EncryptedKeyFrag, VariableLengthBytestring),
-        )
+        threshold, hrac, policy_encrypting_key, publisher_verifying_key, assigned_kfrags_bytes, remainder = main_splitter(data, return_remainder=True)
 
-        try:
-            threshold, hrac, policy_encrypting_key, publisher_verifying_key, remainder = main_splitter(data, return_remainder=True)
-            ursula_and_kfrags = ursula_and_kfrag_payload_splitter.repeat(remainder)
-        except BytestringSplittingError as e:
-            raise ValueError('Invalid treasure map contents.') from e
-        destinations = {u: k for u, k in ursula_and_kfrags}
-        return cls(threshold, hrac, policy_encrypting_key, publisher_verifying_key, destinations)
+        destinations = {}
+        while assigned_kfrags_bytes:
+            ursula_address, assigned_kfrags_bytes = checksum_address_splitter(assigned_kfrags_bytes, return_remainder=True)
+            ekf, assigned_kfrags_bytes = EncryptedKeyFrag.take(assigned_kfrags_bytes)
+            destinations[ursula_address] = ekf
+
+        return cls(threshold, hrac, policy_encrypting_key, publisher_verifying_key, destinations), remainder
 
     def encrypt(self,
                 signer: Signer,
@@ -368,14 +375,6 @@ class TreasureMap(Versioned):
                                                            recipient_key=recipient_key,
                                                            treasure_map=self)
 
-    def _nodes_as_bytes(self) -> bytes:
-        nodes_as_bytes = b""
-        for ursula_address, encrypted_kfrag in self.destinations.items():
-            node_id = to_canonical_address(ursula_address)
-            kfrag = bytes(VariableLengthBytestring(bytes(encrypted_kfrag)))
-            nodes_as_bytes += (node_id + kfrag)
-        return nodes_as_bytes
-
 
 class AuthorizedTreasureMap(Versioned):
 
@@ -408,13 +407,13 @@ class AuthorizedTreasureMap(Versioned):
     def _payload(self) -> bytes:
         """Returns the unversioned bytes serialized representation of this instance."""
         return (bytes(self.signature) +
-                VariableLengthBytestring(bytes(self.treasure_map)))
+                bytes(self.treasure_map))
 
     @classmethod
     def _from_bytes_current(cls, data):
-        splitter = BytestringSplitter(signature_splitter, (TreasureMap, VariableLengthBytestring))
-        signature, treasure_map = splitter(data)
-        return cls(signature, treasure_map)
+        signature, remainder = signature_splitter(data, return_remainder=True)
+        treasure_map, remainder = TreasureMap.take(remainder)
+        return cls(signature, treasure_map), remainder
 
     def verify(self, recipient_key: PublicKey, publisher_verifying_key: PublicKey) -> TreasureMap:
         payload = bytes(recipient_key) + bytes(self.treasure_map)
@@ -472,8 +471,8 @@ class EncryptedTreasureMap(Versioned):
     @classmethod
     def _from_bytes_current(cls, data):
         splitter = BytestringSplitter(capsule_splitter, VariableLengthBytestring)
-        capsule, ciphertext = splitter(data)
-        return cls(capsule, ciphertext)
+        capsule, ciphertext, remainder = splitter(data, return_remainder=True)
+        return cls(capsule, ciphertext), remainder
 
     def __eq__(self, other):
         return bytes(self) == bytes(other)
@@ -518,8 +517,8 @@ class ReencryptionRequest(Versioned):
         return (bytes(self.hrac) +
                 bytes(self.publisher_verifying_key) +
                 bytes(self.bob_verifying_key) +
-                VariableLengthBytestring(bytes(self.encrypted_kfrag)) +
-                b''.join(bytes(capsule) for capsule in self.capsules)
+                bytes(self.encrypted_kfrag) +
+                bytes(VariableLengthBytestring(b''.join(bytes(capsule) for capsule in self.capsules)))
                 )
 
     @classmethod
@@ -538,12 +537,13 @@ class ReencryptionRequest(Versioned):
     def _from_bytes_current(cls, data):
         splitter = (hrac_splitter +
                     key_splitter +
-                    key_splitter +
-                    BytestringSplitter((EncryptedKeyFrag, VariableLengthBytestring)))
+                    key_splitter)
 
-        hrac, publisher_vk, bob_vk, ekfrag, remainder = splitter(data, return_remainder=True)
-        capsules = capsule_splitter.repeat(remainder)
-        return cls(hrac, publisher_vk, bob_vk, ekfrag, capsules)
+        hrac, publisher_vk, bob_vk, remainder = splitter(data, return_remainder=True)
+        ekfrag, remainder = EncryptedKeyFrag.take(remainder)
+        capsule_bytes, remainder = BytestringSplitter(VariableLengthBytestring)(remainder, return_remainder=True)
+        capsules = capsule_splitter.repeat(capsule_bytes)
+        return cls(hrac, publisher_vk, bob_vk, ekfrag, capsules), remainder
 
 
 class ReencryptionResponse(Versioned):
@@ -572,7 +572,7 @@ class ReencryptionResponse(Versioned):
 
     def _payload(self) -> bytes:
         """Returns the unversioned bytes serialized representation of this instance."""
-        return bytes(self.signature) + b''.join(bytes(cfrag) for cfrag in self.cfrags)
+        return bytes(self.signature) + bytes(VariableLengthBytestring(b''.join(bytes(cfrag) for cfrag in self.cfrags)))
 
     @classmethod
     def _brand(cls) -> bytes:
@@ -588,7 +588,8 @@ class ReencryptionResponse(Versioned):
 
     @classmethod
     def _from_bytes_current(cls, data):
-        signature, cfrags_bytes = signature_splitter(data, return_remainder=True)
+        splitter = BytestringSplitter(signature_splitter, VariableLengthBytestring)
+        signature, cfrags_bytes, remainder = splitter(data, return_remainder=True)
 
         # We would never send a request with no capsules, so there should be cfrags.
         # The splitter would fail anyway, this just makes the error message more clear.
@@ -596,7 +597,7 @@ class ReencryptionResponse(Versioned):
             raise ValueError(f"{cls.__name__} contains no cfrags")
 
         cfrags = cfrag_splitter.repeat(cfrags_bytes)
-        return cls(cfrags, signature)
+        return cls(cfrags, signature), remainder
 
     def verify(self,
                capsules: Sequence[Capsule],
@@ -646,7 +647,7 @@ class RetrievalKit(Versioned):
 
     def _payload(self) -> bytes:
         return (bytes(self.capsule) +
-                b''.join(to_canonical_address(address) for address in self.queried_addresses))
+                bytes(VariableLengthBytestring(b''.join(to_canonical_address(address) for address in self.queried_addresses))))
 
     @classmethod
     def _brand(cls) -> bytes:
@@ -662,12 +663,13 @@ class RetrievalKit(Versioned):
 
     @classmethod
     def _from_bytes_current(cls, data):
-        capsule, remainder = capsule_splitter(data, return_remainder=True)
-        if remainder:
-            addresses_as_bytes = checksum_address_splitter.repeat(remainder)
+        splitter = BytestringSplitter(capsule_splitter, VariableLengthBytestring)
+        capsule, addresses_bytes, remainder = splitter(data, return_remainder=True)
+        if addresses_bytes:
+            addresses = checksum_address_splitter.repeat(addresses_bytes)
         else:
-            addresses_as_bytes = ()
-        return cls(capsule, set(to_checksum_address(address) for address in addresses_as_bytes))
+            addresses = ()
+        return cls(capsule, addresses), remainder
 
 
 class RevocationOrder(Versioned):
@@ -701,7 +703,7 @@ class RevocationOrder(Versioned):
 
     @staticmethod
     def _signed_payload(ursula_address, encrypted_kfrag):
-        return to_canonical_address(ursula_address) + bytes(VariableLengthBytestring(bytes(encrypted_kfrag)))
+        return to_canonical_address(ursula_address) + bytes(encrypted_kfrag)
 
     def verify_signature(self, alice_verifying_key: PublicKey) -> bool:
         """
@@ -726,21 +728,20 @@ class RevocationOrder(Versioned):
         return {}
 
     def _payload(self) -> bytes:
-        return self._signed_payload(self.ursula_address, self.encrypted_kfrag) + bytes(self.signature)
+        return bytes(self.signature) + self._signed_payload(self.ursula_address, self.encrypted_kfrag)
 
     @classmethod
     def _from_bytes_current(cls, data):
         splitter = BytestringSplitter(
+            signature_splitter,
             checksum_address_splitter,  # ursula canonical address
-            VariableLengthBytestring,  # EncryptedKeyFrag
-            signature_splitter
         )
-        ursula_canonical_address, ekfrag_bytes, signature = splitter(data)
-        ekfrag = EncryptedKeyFrag.from_bytes(ekfrag_bytes)
-        ursula_address = to_checksum_address(ursula_canonical_address)
-        return cls(ursula_address=ursula_address,
-                   encrypted_kfrag=ekfrag,
-                   signature=signature)
+        signature, ursula_address, remainder = splitter(data, return_remainder=True)
+        ekfrag, remainder = EncryptedKeyFrag.take(remainder)
+        obj = cls(ursula_address=ursula_address,
+                  encrypted_kfrag=ekfrag,
+                  signature=signature)
+        return obj, remainder
 
 
 class NodeMetadataPayload(NamedTuple):
@@ -755,20 +756,19 @@ class NodeMetadataPayload(NamedTuple):
     host: str
     port: int
 
-    _splitter = BytestringKwargifier(
-        dict,
-        public_address=ETH_ADDRESS_BYTE_LENGTH,
-        domain_bytes=VariableLengthBytestring,
-        timestamp_epoch=(int, 4, {'byteorder': 'big'}),
+    _splitter = BytestringSplitter(
+        (bytes, ETH_ADDRESS_BYTE_LENGTH), # public_address
+        VariableLengthBytestring, # domain_bytes
+        (int, 4, {'byteorder': 'big'}), # timestamp_epoch
 
         # FIXME: Fixed length doesn't work with federated. It was LENGTH_ECDSA_SIGNATURE_WITH_RECOVERY,
-        decentralized_identity_evidence=VariableLengthBytestring,
+        VariableLengthBytestring, # decentralized_identity_evidence
 
-        verifying_key=key_splitter,
-        encrypting_key=key_splitter,
-        certificate_bytes=VariableLengthBytestring,
-        host_bytes=VariableLengthBytestring,
-        port=(int, 2, {'byteorder': 'big'}),
+        key_splitter, # verifying_key
+        key_splitter, # encrypting_key
+        VariableLengthBytestring, # certificate_bytes
+        VariableLengthBytestring, # host_bytes
+        (int, 2, {'byteorder': 'big'}), # port
         )
 
     def __bytes__(self):
@@ -784,19 +784,40 @@ class NodeMetadataPayload(NamedTuple):
                                 ))
         return as_bytes
 
+    @classmethod
+    def take(cls, data):
+        *fields, remainder = cls._splitter(data, return_remainder=True)
+
+        (public_address,
+         domain,
+         timestamp_epoch,
+         decentralized_identity_evidence,
+         verifying_key,
+         encrypting_key,
+         certificate_bytes,
+         host,
+         port,
+         ) = fields
+
+        obj = cls(public_address=public_address,
+                  domain=domain.decode('utf-8'),
+                  timestamp_epoch=timestamp_epoch,
+                  decentralized_identity_evidence=decentralized_identity_evidence,
+                  verifying_key=verifying_key,
+                  encrypting_key=encrypting_key,
+                  certificate_bytes=certificate_bytes,
+                  host=host.decode('utf-8'),
+                  port=port,
+                  )
+
+        return obj, remainder
+
     @classmethod
     def from_bytes(cls, data):
-        result = cls._splitter(data)
-        return cls(public_address=result['public_address'],
-                   domain=result['domain_bytes'].decode('utf-8'),
-                   timestamp_epoch=result['timestamp_epoch'],
-                   decentralized_identity_evidence=result['decentralized_identity_evidence'],
-                   verifying_key=result['verifying_key'],
-                   encrypting_key=result['encrypting_key'],
-                   certificate_bytes=result['certificate_bytes'],
-                   host=result['host_bytes'].decode('utf-8'),
-                   port=result['port'],
-                   )
+        obj, remainder = cls.take(data)
+        if remainder:
+            raise ValueError(f"{len(remainder)} bytes remaining after deserializing {cls}")
+        return obj
 
 
 class NodeMetadata(Versioned):
@@ -838,16 +859,16 @@ class NodeMetadata(Versioned):
     @classmethod
     def _from_bytes_current(cls, data: bytes):
         signature, remainder = signature_splitter(data, return_remainder=True)
-        payload = NodeMetadataPayload.from_bytes(remainder)
-        return cls(signature=signature, payload=payload)
+        payload, remainder = NodeMetadataPayload.take(remainder)
+        return cls(signature=signature, payload=payload), remainder
 
     @classmethod
-    def batch_from_bytes(cls, data: bytes):
-
-        node_splitter = BytestringSplitter(VariableLengthBytestring)
-        nodes_vbytes = node_splitter.repeat(data)
-
-        return [cls.from_bytes(node_data) for node_data in nodes_vbytes]
+    def _batch_from_bytes(cls, data: bytes):
+        nodes = []
+        while data:
+            node, data = cls.take(data)
+            nodes.append(node)
+        return nodes
 
 
 class MetadataRequest(Versioned):
@@ -876,29 +897,34 @@ class MetadataRequest(Versioned):
 
     def _payload(self):
         if self.announce_nodes:
-            nodes_bytes = bytes().join(bytes(VariableLengthBytestring(bytes(n))) for n in self.announce_nodes)
+            nodes_bytes = b''.join(bytes(n) for n in self.announce_nodes)
         else:
             nodes_bytes = b''
-        return bytes.fromhex(self.fleet_state_checksum) + nodes_bytes
+        return bytes.fromhex(self.fleet_state_checksum) + bytes(VariableLengthBytestring(nodes_bytes))
 
     @classmethod
     def _from_bytes_current(cls, data):
-        fleet_state_checksum_bytes, nodes_bytes = cls._fleet_state_checksum_splitter(data, return_remainder=True)
+        splitter = BytestringSplitter(
+            (bytes, 32), # fleet state checksum
+            VariableLengthBytestring,
+            )
+        fleet_state_checksum_bytes, nodes_bytes, remainder = splitter(data, return_remainder=True)
         if nodes_bytes:
-            nodes = NodeMetadata.batch_from_bytes(nodes_bytes)
+            nodes = NodeMetadata._batch_from_bytes(nodes_bytes)
         else:
             nodes = None
-        return cls(fleet_state_checksum=fleet_state_checksum_bytes.hex(),
-                   announce_nodes=nodes)
+        obj = cls(fleet_state_checksum=fleet_state_checksum_bytes.hex(),
+                  announce_nodes=nodes)
+        return obj, remainder
 
 
 class MetadataResponse(Versioned):
 
     _splitter = BytestringSplitter(
+        signature_splitter,
         (int, 4, {'byteorder': 'big'}),
         VariableLengthBytestring,
         VariableLengthBytestring,
-        signature_splitter,
         )
 
     @classmethod
@@ -918,7 +944,7 @@ class MetadataResponse(Versioned):
     @staticmethod
     def _signed_payload(timestamp_epoch, this_node, other_nodes):
         timestamp = timestamp_epoch.to_bytes(4, byteorder="big")
-        nodes_payload = b''.join(bytes(VariableLengthBytestring(bytes(node))) for node in other_nodes) if other_nodes else b''
+        nodes_payload = b''.join(bytes(node) for node in other_nodes) if other_nodes else b''
         return (
             timestamp +
             bytes(VariableLengthBytestring(bytes(this_node) if this_node else b'')) +
@@ -955,14 +981,15 @@ class MetadataResponse(Versioned):
 
     def _payload(self):
         payload = self._signed_payload(self.timestamp_epoch, self.this_node, self.other_nodes)
-        return payload + bytes(self.signature)
+        return bytes(self.signature) + payload
 
     @classmethod
     def _from_bytes_current(cls, data: bytes):
-        timestamp_epoch, maybe_this_node, maybe_other_nodes, signature = cls._splitter(data)
+        signature, timestamp_epoch, maybe_this_node, maybe_other_nodes, remainder = cls._splitter(data, return_remainder=True)
         this_node = NodeMetadata.from_bytes(maybe_this_node) if maybe_this_node else None
-        other_nodes = NodeMetadata.batch_from_bytes(maybe_other_nodes) if maybe_other_nodes else None
-        return cls(signature=signature,
-                   timestamp_epoch=timestamp_epoch,
-                   this_node=this_node,
-                   other_nodes=other_nodes)
+        other_nodes = NodeMetadata._batch_from_bytes(maybe_other_nodes) if maybe_other_nodes else None
+        obj = cls(signature=signature,
+                  timestamp_epoch=timestamp_epoch,
+                  this_node=this_node,
+                  other_nodes=other_nodes)
+        return obj, remainder
diff --git a/nucypher/utilities/versioning.py b/nucypher/utilities/versioning.py
index 6914b11cd..af65beaad 100644
--- a/nucypher/utilities/versioning.py
+++ b/nucypher/utilities/versioning.py
@@ -93,12 +93,24 @@ class Versioned(ABC):
         raise NotImplementedError
 
     @classmethod
-    def from_bytes(cls, data: bytes):
-        """"Public deserialization API"""
+    def take(cls, data: bytes):
+        """
+        Deserializes the object from the given bytestring
+        and returns the object and the remainder of the bytestring.
+        """
         brand, version, payload = cls._parse_header(data)
         version = cls._resolve_version(version=version)
         handlers = cls._deserializers()
-        return handlers[version](payload)
+        obj, remainder = handlers[version](payload)
+        return obj, remainder
+
+    @classmethod
+    def from_bytes(cls, data: bytes):
+        """"Public deserialization API"""
+        obj, remainder = cls.take(data)
+        if remainder:
+            raise ValueError(f"{len(remainder)} bytes remaining after deserializing {cls}")
+        return obj
 
     @classmethod
     def _resolve_version(cls, version: Tuple[int, int]) -> Tuple[int, int]:
diff --git a/tests/integration/characters/test_specifications.py b/tests/integration/characters/test_specifications.py
index 332f90caa..16d0eb443 100644
--- a/tests/integration/characters/test_specifications.py
+++ b/tests/integration/characters/test_specifications.py
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ def test_treasure_map_validation(enacted_federated_policy,
         UnenncryptedTreasureMapsOnly().load({'tmap': bad_map_b64})
 
     assert "Could not convert input for tmap to a TreasureMap" in str(e)
-    assert "Invalid treasure map contents." in str(e)
+    assert "Can't split a message with more bytes than the original splittable." in str(e)
 
     # a valid treasuremap
     decrypted_treasure_map = federated_bob._decrypt_treasure_map(enacted_federated_policy.treasure_map,
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_versioning.py b/tests/unit/test_versioning.py
index 87e815e1e..354ec6092 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_versioning.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_versioning.py
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ def _check_valid_version_tuple(version: Any, cls: Type):
 
 class A(Versioned):
 
-    def __init__(self, x):
+    def __init__(self, x: int):
         self.x = x
 
     @classmethod
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ class A(Versioned):
         return 2, 1
 
     def _payload(self) -> bytes:
-        return bytes(self.x)
+        return self.x.to_bytes(1, 'big')
 
     @classmethod
     def _old_version_handlers(cls):
@@ -57,11 +57,16 @@ class A(Versioned):
 
     @classmethod
     def _from_bytes_v2_0(cls, data):
-        return cls(int(data, 16))  # then we switched to the hexadecimal
+        # v2.0 saved a 4 byte integer in hex format
+        int_hex, remainder = data[:2], data[2:]
+        int_bytes = bytes.fromhex(int_hex.decode())
+        return cls(int.from_bytes(int_bytes, 'big')), remainder
 
     @classmethod
     def _from_bytes_current(cls, data):
-        return cls(str(int(data, 16)))  # but now we use a string representation for some reason
+        # v2.1 saves a 4 byte integer as 4 bytes
+        int_bytes, remainder = data[:1], data[1:]
+        return cls(int.from_bytes(int_bytes, 'big')), remainder
 
 
 def test_unique_branding():
@@ -206,13 +211,13 @@ def test_current_minor_version_handler_routing(mocker):
     current_spy = mocker.spy(A, "_from_bytes_current")
     v2_0_spy = mocker.spy(A, "_from_bytes_v2_0")
 
-    v2_1_data = b'ABCD\x00\x02\x00\x0112'
+    v2_1_data = b'ABCD\x00\x02\x00\x01\x12'
     a = A.from_bytes(v2_1_data)
-    assert a.x == '18'
+    assert a.x == 18
 
     # Current version was correctly routed to the v2.1 handler.
     assert current_spy.call_count == 1
-    current_spy.assert_called_with(b'12')
+    current_spy.assert_called_with(b'\x12')
     assert not v2_0_spy.call_count
 
 
@@ -220,12 +225,12 @@ def test_future_minor_version_handler_routing(mocker):
     current_spy = mocker.spy(A, "_from_bytes_current")
     v2_0_spy = mocker.spy(A, "_from_bytes_v2_0")
 
-    v2_2_data = b'ABCD\x00\x02\x02\x0112'
+    v2_2_data = b'ABCD\x00\x02\x02\x01\x12'
     a = A.from_bytes(v2_2_data)
-    assert a.x == '18'
+    assert a.x == 18
 
     # Future minor version was correctly routed to
     # the current minor version handler.
     assert current_spy.call_count == 1
-    current_spy.assert_called_with(b'12')
+    current_spy.assert_called_with(b'\x12')
     assert not v2_0_spy.call_count