diff --git a/src/decode.rs b/src/decode.rs
index db2b19a..7b7950d 100644
--- a/src/decode.rs
+++ b/src/decode.rs
@@ -72,16 +72,15 @@ impl<R: Read, W: Write> Decoder<R, W> {
             }
             let mut bytes = 0;
             for (i, &c) in in_buf.iter().enumerate() {
-                let c = c.into();
                 num <<= 6;
-                if c == char::from(self.alphabet.pad()) {
+                if c == self.alphabet.pad() {
                     continue;
                 }
                 if i != bytes {
-                    return Err(Error::IllegalChar(c));
+                    return Err(Error::IllegalChar(c.into()));
                 }
                 let Some(idx) = self.alphabet.get(c) else {
-                    return Err(Error::IllegalChar(c));
+                    return Err(Error::IllegalChar(c.into()));
                 };
                 num |= u32::try_from(idx)?;
                 bytes += 1;
@@ -109,22 +108,22 @@ mod tests {
     fn decode() {
         let mut decoder = Decoder::new("SGVsbG8sIFdvcmxk".as_bytes(), vec![], None, false);
         let mut output = decoder.decode().unwrap();
-        assert_eq!(String::from_utf8(output.clone()).unwrap(), "Hello, World");
+        assert_eq!(output.clone(), b"Hello, World");
         output.clear();
         decoder = Decoder::new("SGVsbG8sIFdvcmxkIQ==".as_bytes(), output, None, false);
         output = decoder.decode().unwrap();
-        assert_eq!(String::from_utf8(output.clone()).unwrap(), "Hello, World!");
+        assert_eq!(output.clone(), b"Hello, World!");
         output.clear();
         decoder = Decoder::new("SGVsbG8sIFdvcmxkIQo=".as_bytes(), output, None, false);
         output = decoder.decode().unwrap();
-        assert_eq!(String::from_utf8(output).unwrap(), "Hello, World!\n");
+        assert_eq!(output, b"Hello, World!\n");
     }
 
     #[test]
     fn ignore_whitespace() {
         let decoder = Decoder::new(" SG\tVsbG8sIFdvcmxkIQ==".as_bytes(), vec![], None, true);
         let output = decoder.decode().unwrap();
-        assert_eq!(String::from_utf8(output.clone()).unwrap(), "Hello, World!");
+        assert_eq!(output, b"Hello, World!");
     }
 
     #[test]
diff --git a/src/encode.rs b/src/encode.rs
index 60baf7e..f2bcc2d 100644
--- a/src/encode.rs
+++ b/src/encode.rs
@@ -69,21 +69,14 @@ impl<R: Read, W: Write> Encoder<R, W> {
             }
             if let Some(wrap) = self.wrap {
                 for idx in 0..=3 {
-                    write!(self.writer, "{}", char::from(obuf[idx]))?;
+                    self.writer.write_all(&[obuf[idx]])?;
                     total += 1;
                     if total % wrap == 0 {
                         writeln!(self.writer)?;
                     }
                 }
             } else {
-                write!(
-                    self.writer,
-                    "{}{}{}{}",
-                    char::from(obuf[0]),
-                    char::from(obuf[1]),
-                    char::from(obuf[2]),
-                    char::from(obuf[3])
-                )?;
+                self.writer.write_all(&obuf)?;
             }
             if outlen < 4 {
                 break;
@@ -105,7 +98,7 @@ mod tests {
     fn encode() {
         let mut encoder = Encoder::new("Hello, World".as_bytes(), vec![], None, None);
         encoder.encode().unwrap();
-        assert_eq!(encoder.writer, "SGVsbG8sIFdvcmxk".as_bytes());
+        assert_eq!(encoder.writer, b"SGVsbG8sIFdvcmxk");
         encoder = Encoder {
             reader: "Hello, World!".as_bytes(),
             writer: vec![],
@@ -113,10 +106,10 @@ mod tests {
             wrap: None,
         };
         encoder.encode().unwrap();
-        assert_eq!(encoder.writer, "SGVsbG8sIFdvcmxkIQ==".as_bytes());
+        assert_eq!(encoder.writer, b"SGVsbG8sIFdvcmxkIQ==");
         encoder = Encoder::new("Hello, World!\n".as_bytes(), vec![], None, None);
         encoder.encode().unwrap();
-        assert_eq!(encoder.writer, "SGVsbG8sIFdvcmxkIQo=".as_bytes());
+        assert_eq!(encoder.writer, b"SGVsbG8sIFdvcmxkIQo=");
     }
 
     #[test]
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index bbcf11e..759159d 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -33,9 +33,9 @@ impl Default for B64Alphabet {
 }
 
 impl B64Alphabet {
-    pub(crate) fn get(&self, c: char) -> Option<usize> {
+    pub(crate) fn get(&self, c: u8) -> Option<usize> {
         for (idx, x) in self.items.iter().enumerate() {
-            if char::from(*x) == c {
+            if *x == c {
                 return Some(idx);
             }
         }