diff --git a/tools/python/pizza/dump.py b/tools/python/pizza/dump.py
index 214a9d87b5..92df8fde6e 100644
--- a/tools/python/pizza/dump.py
+++ b/tools/python/pizza/dump.py
@@ -357,7 +357,21 @@ class dump:
   def read_snapshot(self,f):
     try:
       snap = Snap()
-      item = f.readline()
+      snap.units = 'unknown'
+      snap.stime = -1.0
+      # read until hitting next "TIMESTEP" item
+      while True:
+        try:
+          item = f.readline().split()
+          if item[0] == 'ITEM:' and item[1] == 'UNITS':
+            snap.units = f.readline().split()[0]
+          if item[0] == 'ITEM:' and item[1] == 'TIME':
+            snap.time = f.readline().split()[0]
+          if item[0] == 'ITEM:' and item[1] == 'TIMESTEP':
+            break
+        except:
+          return
+
       snap.time = int(f.readline().split()[0])    # just grab 1st field
       item = f.readline()
       snap.natoms = int(f.readline())
@@ -391,7 +405,7 @@ class dump:
         for i in range(1,snap.natoms):
           words += f.readline().split()
         floats = map(float,words)
-        atom_data = np.array(list(floats),np.float)
+        atom_data = np.array(list(floats),float)
 
         snap.atoms = atom_data.reshape((snap.natoms, ncol))
       else:
diff --git a/tools/python/pizza/log.py b/tools/python/pizza/log.py
index df35b64cde..874b70cca1 100644
--- a/tools/python/pizza/log.py
+++ b/tools/python/pizza/log.py
@@ -318,9 +318,9 @@ class log:
         last = 1                                      # entire read is a chunk
         s1 = 0
         if self.style == 1:
-          s2 = txt.rfind("\n--".encode('utf-8'),s1) + 1
+          s2 = txt.rfind("\n--",s1) + 1
         else:
-          s2 = txt.rfind("\n".encode('utf-8'),s1) + 1
+          s2 = txt.rfind("\n",s1) + 1
         eof -= len(txt) - s2
         if s1 == s2: break