diff --git a/lib/msf/core/modules/external/python/metasploit/module.py b/lib/msf/core/modules/external/python/metasploit/module.py
index 56b6781b23..6470effe0e 100644
--- a/lib/msf/core/modules/external/python/metasploit/module.py
+++ b/lib/msf/core/modules/external/python/metasploit/module.py
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ def report_vuln(ip, name, **opts):
 
 
 def run(metadata, module_callback):
-    req = json.loads(os.read(0, 10000))
+    req = json.loads(os.read(0, 10000).decode("utf-8"))
     if req['method'] == 'describe':
         rpc_send({'jsonrpc': '2.0', 'id': req['id'], 'response': metadata})
     elif req['method'] == 'run':
diff --git a/modules/auxiliary/scanner/ssl/bleichenbacher_oracle.py b/modules/auxiliary/scanner/ssl/bleichenbacher_oracle.py
index 0dfa7558d9..4b5bab7f6b 100755
--- a/modules/auxiliary/scanner/ssl/bleichenbacher_oracle.py
+++ b/modules/auxiliary/scanner/ssl/bleichenbacher_oracle.py
@@ -9,9 +9,13 @@ import os
 import ssl
 
 # extra modules
-import gmpy2
-from cryptography import x509
-from cryptography.hazmat.backends import default_backend
+dependencies_missing = False
+try:
+    import gmpy2
+    from cryptography import x509
+    from cryptography.hazmat.backends import default_backend
+except ImportError:
+    dependencies_missing = True
 
 from metasploit import module
 
@@ -151,6 +155,10 @@ def oracle(target, pms, cke_2nd_prefix, cipher_handshake=ch_def, messageflow=Fal
 
 
 def run(args):
+    if dependencies_missing:
+        module.log("Module dependencies (gmpy2 and cryptography python libraries) missing, cannot continue", level='error')
+        return
+
     target = (args['rhost'], int(args['rport']))
     timeout = float(args['timeout'])
     cipher_handshake = cipher_handshakes[args['cipher_group']]