diff --git a/Makefile.in b/Makefile.in
index 912f6b2..862fb5f 100644
--- a/Makefile.in
+++ b/Makefile.in
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ perlcleanfeatures:
 
 # python specific build rules
 #
-PYMAKE=$(PYTHON) setup.py $(PYTHONARGS)
+PYMAKE=/usr/bin/python3 setup.py $(PYTHONARGS)
 pythonmodules: subdirs
 	@(dir=`pwd`; cd python; $(PYMAKE) build --basedir=$$dir) ; \
         if test $$? != 0 ; then \
diff --git a/python/netsnmp/client.py b/python/netsnmp/client.py
index daf11a4..3a30a64 100644
--- a/python/netsnmp/client.py
+++ b/python/netsnmp/client.py
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ class Varbind(object):
     def __init__(self, tag=None, iid=None, val=None, type_arg=None):
         self.tag = STR(tag)
         self.iid = STR(iid)
-        self.val = STR(val)
+        self.val = val
         self.type = STR(type_arg)
         # parse iid out of tag if needed
         if iid is None and tag is not None:
@@ -66,7 +66,10 @@ class Varbind(object):
                 (self.tag, self.iid) = match.group(1, 2)
 
     def __setattr__(self, name, val):
-        self.__dict__[name] = STR(val)
+        if name == 'val':
+            self.__dict__[name] = val
+        else:
+            self.__dict__[name] = STR(val)
 
     def __str__(self):
         return obj_to_str(self)