diff --git a/proofow.py b/proofow.py
index e9d9aa2..ac20b9c 100644
--- a/proofow.py
+++ b/proofow.py
@@ -30,14 +30,12 @@ class pow_base:
         return int(hexresult, 16) < self._target
 
     def export(self):
-        return b64encode(str(self.difficulty).encode()
-                         + b':'
-                         + self.base).decode()
+        return str(self.difficulty) + ':' + b64encode(self.base).decode()
 
     @classmethod
     def load(cls, export):
-        difficulty, base = b64decode(export.encode()).split(b':', 1)
-        return cls(int(difficulty), base)
+        difficulty, base = export.split(':', 1)
+        return cls(int(difficulty), b64decode(base.encode()))
 
 
 class pow_hashlib_base(pow_base):