diff --git a/verify/generate.py b/verify/generate.py
index ad860359..06a10732 100644
--- a/verify/generate.py
+++ b/verify/generate.py
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
-from substrateinterface import Keypair
-from os import getenv, environ
 from datetime import datetime
+
 import bittensor
 
 # Hardcode or set the environment variable WALLET_PASS to the password for the wallet
@@ -14,14 +13,15 @@ def main(args):
     timestamp = datetime.now()
     timezone = timestamp.astimezone().tzname()
 
-    message = f"On {timestamp} {timezone} {args.message}"
+    # ensure compatiblity with polkadotjs messages, as polkadotjs always wraps message
+    message = "<Bytes>" + f"On {timestamp} {timezone} {args.message}" + "</Bytes>"
     signature = keypair.sign(data=message)
 
     file_contents = f"{message}\n\tSigned by: {keypair.ss58_address}\n\tSignature: {signature.hex()}"
     print(file_contents)
     open("message_and_signature.txt", "w").write(file_contents)
 
-    print(f"Signature generated and saved to message_and_signature.txt")
+    print("Signature generated and saved to message_and_signature.txt")
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
diff --git a/verify/verify.py b/verify/verify.py
index 64516f08..9e954b72 100644
--- a/verify/verify.py
+++ b/verify/verify.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
-from substrateinterface import Keypair
 from binascii import unhexlify
 
+from substrateinterface import Keypair
+
 
 def main(args):
     file_data = open(args.file).read()
@@ -16,6 +17,8 @@ def main(args):
     keypair = Keypair(ss58_address=address, ss58_format=42)
 
     message = file_split[0]
+    if not message.startswith("<Bytes>") or not message.endswith("</Bytes>"):
+        raise ValueError("Message is not properly wrapped in <Bytes>.")
 
     signature_line = file_split[2]
     signature_prefix = "Signature: "
@@ -36,8 +39,6 @@ def main(args):
     import argparse
 
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="Verify a signature")
-    parser.add_argument(
-        "--file", help="The file containing the message and signature"
-    )
+    parser.add_argument("--file", help="The file containing the message and signature")
     args = parser.parse_args()
     main(args)