diff --git a/src/meshio/med/_med.py b/src/meshio/med/_med.py
index 301322466..0bd10bd38 100644
--- a/src/meshio/med/_med.py
+++ b/src/meshio/med/_med.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
     "wedge15": "P15",
 }
 med_to_meshio_type = {v: k for k, v in meshio_to_med_type.items()}
-numpy_void_str = np.string_("")
+numpy_void_str = np.bytes_("")
 
 
 def read(filename):