diff --git a/python/swiftest/swiftest/io.py b/python/swiftest/swiftest/io.py
index 00bcd914c..0397335d6 100644
--- a/python/swiftest/swiftest/io.py
+++ b/python/swiftest/swiftest/io.py
@@ -718,9 +718,10 @@ def clean_string_values(param, ds):
     -------
     ds : xarray dataset with the strings cleaned up
     """  
-    #ds['name'] =  ds['name'].str.decode(encoding='utf-8')
-    #ds['particle_type'] =  ds['particle_type'].str.decode(encoding='utf-8')
-    #  ds['origin_type'] =  ds['origin_type'].str.decode(encoding='utf-8')
+    ds['name'] =  ds['name'].str.decode(encoding='utf-8')
+    ds['particle_type'] =  ds['particle_type'].str.decode(encoding='utf-8')
+    if 'origin_type' in ds:
+       ds['origin_type'] =  ds['origin_type'].str.decode(encoding='utf-8')
     return ds
 
 
diff --git a/src/util/util_append.f90 b/src/util/util_append.f90
index 2f7d54474..d6b18d4e8 100644
--- a/src/util/util_append.f90
+++ b/src/util/util_append.f90
@@ -134,7 +134,12 @@ module subroutine util_append_arr_info(arr, source, nold, nsrc, lsource_mask)
 
       nnew = count(lsource_mask(1:nsrc))
       if (.not.allocated(arr)) then
-         allocate(arr(nold+nnew))
+         select type(source)
+         class is (symba_particle_info)
+            allocate(symba_particle_info :: arr(nold+nnew))
+         class default
+            allocate(swiftest_particle_info :: arr(nold+nnew))
+         end select
       else
          call util_resize(arr, nold + nnew)
       end if