diff --git a/salt/modules/mdadm_raid.py b/salt/modules/mdadm_raid.py
index 7b388b42b6b6..2193b596b7e0 100644
--- a/salt/modules/mdadm_raid.py
+++ b/salt/modules/mdadm_raid.py
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ def create(name,
            '-v',
            '-l', six.text_type(level),
            ] + opts + [
-           '-e', metadata,
+           '-e', six.text_type(metadata),
            '-n', six.text_type(raid_devices),
            ] + devices