diff --git a/litex/soc/tools/litex_term.py b/litex/soc/tools/litex_term.py
index 5ac3ed356..bdc0c0568 100644
--- a/litex/soc/tools/litex_term.py
+++ b/litex/soc/tools/litex_term.py
@@ -32,20 +32,19 @@ else:
 
 
 sfl_magic_len = 14
-sfl_magic_req = bytes("sL5DdSMmkekro\n", "utf-8")
-sfl_magic_ack = bytes("z6IHG7cYDID6o\n", "utf-8")
+sfl_magic_req = b"sL5DdSMmkekro\n"
+sfl_magic_ack = b"z6IHG7cYDID6o\n"
 
 # General commands
-sfl_cmd_abort = 0x00
-sfl_cmd_load  = 0x01
-sfl_cmd_jump  = 0x02
-
+sfl_cmd_abort = b"\x00"
+sfl_cmd_load  = b"\x01"
+sfl_cmd_jump  = b"\x02"
 
 # Replies
-sfl_ack_success  = 'K'
-sfl_ack_crcerror = 'C'
-sfl_ack_unknown  = 'U'
-sfl_ack_error    = 'E'
+sfl_ack_success  = b"K"
+sfl_ack_crcerror = b"C"
+sfl_ack_unknown  = b"U"
+sfl_ack_error    = b"E"
 
 
 crc16_table = [
@@ -93,30 +92,18 @@ def crc16(l):
 
 class SFLFrame:
     def __init__(self):
-        self.length = None
-        self.cmd = None
-        self.payload = []
-        self.crc = None
-        self.raw = []
+        self.cmd = bytes()
+        self.payload = bytes()
 
     def compute_crc(self):
-        crc_data = []
-        crc_data.append(self.cmd)
-        for d in self.payload:
-            crc_data.append(d)
-        self.crc = crc16(crc_data)
-        return self.crc
+        return crc16(self.cmd + self.payload)
 
     def encode(self):
-        self.raw = []
-        self.raw.append(self.length)
-        self.compute_crc()
-        for d in self.crc.to_bytes(2, "big"):
-            self.raw.append(d)
-        self.raw.append(self.cmd)
-        for d in self.payload:
-            self.raw.append(d)
-
+        packet = bytes([len(self.payload)])
+        packet += self.compute_crc().to_bytes(2, "big")
+        packet += self.cmd
+        packet += self.payload
+        return packet
 
 class LiteXTerm:
     def __init__(self, kernel_image, kernel_address):
@@ -126,7 +113,7 @@ class LiteXTerm:
         self.reader_alive = False
         self.writer_alive = False
 
-        self.detect_magic_bytes = bytearray([0 for i in range(len(sfl_magic_req))])
+        self.detect_magic_bytes = bytes(len(sfl_magic_req))
 
     def open(self, port, speed):
         self.serial = serial.serial_for_url(
@@ -146,12 +133,11 @@ class LiteXTerm:
         self.serial.close()
 
     def send_frame(self, frame):
-        frame.encode()
         retry = 1
         while retry:
-            self.serial.write(frame.raw)
+            self.serial.write(frame.encode())
             # Get the reply from the device
-            reply = self.serial.read().decode()
+            reply = self.serial.read()
             if reply == sfl_ack_success:
                 retry = 0
             elif reply == sfl_ack_crcerror:
@@ -173,12 +159,9 @@ class LiteXTerm:
             print("{}%\r".format(100*position//length), end="")
             frame = SFLFrame()
             frame_data = data[:251]
-            frame.length = len(frame_data) + 4
             frame.cmd = sfl_cmd_load
-            for d in current_address.to_bytes(4, "big"):
-                frame.payload.append(d)
-            for d in frame_data:
-                frame.payload.append(d)
+            frame.payload = current_address.to_bytes(4, "big")
+            frame.payload += frame_data
             if self.send_frame(frame) == 0:
                 return
             current_address += len(frame_data)
@@ -195,10 +178,8 @@ class LiteXTerm:
     def boot(self):
         print("[TERM] Booting the device.")
         frame = SFLFrame()
-        frame.length = 4
         frame.cmd = sfl_cmd_jump
-        for d in self.kernel_address.to_bytes(4, "big"):
-            frame.payload.append(d)
+        frame.payload = self.kernel_address.to_bytes(4, "big") 
         self.send_frame(frame)
 
     def detect_magic(self, data):
@@ -219,15 +200,15 @@ class LiteXTerm:
     def reader(self):
         try:
             while self.reader_alive:
-                c = self.serial.read().decode()
-                if c == '\r':
-                    sys.stdout.write('\n')
+                c = self.serial.read()
+                if c == b"\r":
+                    sys.stdout.write(b"\n")
                 else:
-                    sys.stdout.write(c)
+                    sys.stdout.write(c.decode())
                 sys.stdout.flush()
 
                 if self.kernel_image is not None:
-                    if self.detect_magic(bytes(c, "utf-8")):
+                    if self.detect_magic(c):
                         self.answer_magic()
 
         except serial.SerialException: