diff --git a/image/docker/schema1.py b/image/docker/schema1.py
index 84b9f63a1..6f8660e61 100644
--- a/image/docker/schema1.py
+++ b/image/docker/schema1.py
@@ -194,10 +194,6 @@ class DockerSchema1Manifest(ManifestInterface):
     if validate:
       self._validate()
 
-  @classmethod
-  def for_latin1_bytes(cls, encoded_bytes, validate=True):
-    return DockerSchema1Manifest(Bytes.for_string_or_unicode(encoded_bytes), validate)
-
   def _validate(self):
     if not self._signatures:
       return
diff --git a/image/docker/test/test_schema1.py b/image/docker/test/test_schema1.py
index 07c323ffc..4392ae8cb 100644
--- a/image/docker/test/test_schema1.py
+++ b/image/docker/test/test_schema1.py
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ def test_validate_manifest_with_unicode_encoded():
   with open(os.path.join(test_dir, 'manifest_unicode_row.json'), 'r') as f:
     manifest_bytes = json.loads(f.read())[0]['json_data']
 
-  manifest = DockerSchema1Manifest.for_latin1_bytes(manifest_bytes, validate=True)
+  manifest = DockerSchema1Manifest(Bytes.for_string_or_unicode(manifest_bytes), validate=True)
   digest = manifest.digest
   assert digest == 'sha256:dde3714ce7e23edc6413aa85c0b42792e4f2f79e9ea36afc154d63ff3d04e86c'
   assert manifest.created_datetime
diff --git a/workers/tagbackfillworker.py b/workers/tagbackfillworker.py
index e3fb1d5e6..226a7f9dc 100644
--- a/workers/tagbackfillworker.py
+++ b/workers/tagbackfillworker.py
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ def backfill_tag(repositorytag):
   if lookup_map_row(repositorytag):
     return False
 
-  # Grab the manifest for the RepositoryTag, backfilling is necessary.
+  # Grab the manifest for the RepositoryTag, backfilling as necessary.
   manifest_id = _get_manifest_id(repositorytag)
   if manifest_id is None:
     return False
@@ -269,7 +269,8 @@ def _backfill_manifest(tag_manifest):
   # without additional rows or data, as it will eventually not be useful.
   is_broken = False
   try:
-    manifest = DockerSchema1Manifest.for_latin1_bytes(tag_manifest.json_data, validate=False)
+    manifest = DockerSchema1Manifest(Bytes.for_string_or_unicode(tag_manifest.json_data),
+                                     validate=False)
   except ManifestException:
     logger.exception('Exception when trying to parse manifest %s', tag_manifest.id)
     manifest = BrokenManifest(tag_manifest.digest, tag_manifest.json_data)