diff --git a/plugins/module_utils/implementations/mysql/hash.py b/plugins/module_utils/implementations/mysql/hash.py
index 4fec3de..0068a0c 100644
--- a/plugins/module_utils/implementations/mysql/hash.py
+++ b/plugins/module_utils/implementations/mysql/hash.py
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ def mysql_sha256_password_hash(password, salt):
     iteration = 1000 * count
 
     digest = _sha256_digest(password, salt, iteration)
-    return "$A${0:>03}${1}{2}".format(count, salt, digest).encode().hex().upper()
+    return "$A${0:>03}${1}{2}".format(count, salt, digest)
 
 
 def mysql_sha256_password_hash_hex(password, salt):