diff --git a/scripts/ci/cpu.yml b/scripts/ci/cpu.yml
index 272dbbd7..ca0299d5 100644
--- a/scripts/ci/cpu.yml
+++ b/scripts/ci/cpu.yml
@@ -72,5 +72,5 @@ tests:
     - ./run.sh
   parallel:
     matrix:
-      - TEST: [all_pars, anisotropic_conduction, bondi, bondi_viscous, bz_monopole,
+      - TEST: [all_pars, anisotropic_conduction, bondi, bondi_viscous, bz_monopole, conducting_atmosphere,
                emhdmodes, mhdmodes, noh, regrid, reinit, resize, restart, tilt_init, torus_sanity]
diff --git a/tests/conducting_atmosphere/check.py b/tests/conducting_atmosphere/check.py
index 655e0489..dd0e3f42 100644
--- a/tests/conducting_atmosphere/check.py
+++ b/tests/conducting_atmosphere/check.py
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@
         
         t   = dfile['t'][()]
         gam = dfile['header/gam'][()]
-        higher_order_terms = dfile['header/higher_order_terms'][()].decode('UTF-8')
+        higher_order_terms = dfile['header/higher_order_terms']
 
         # compute q
         if higher_order_terms=="TRUE":