diff --git a/client/finality-grandpa/src/communication/mod.rs b/client/finality-grandpa/src/communication/mod.rs
index a8bfb84416b8f..9509922cf2d3a 100644
--- a/client/finality-grandpa/src/communication/mod.rs
+++ b/client/finality-grandpa/src/communication/mod.rs
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ mod periodic;
 pub(crate) mod tests;
 
 pub use sp_finality_grandpa::GRANDPA_ENGINE_ID;
-pub const GRANDPA_PROTOCOL_NAME: &[u8] = b"/paritytech/grandpa/1";
+pub const GRANDPA_PROTOCOL_NAME: &'static str = "/paritytech/grandpa/1";
 
 // cost scalars for reporting peers.
 mod cost {
diff --git a/client/finality-grandpa/src/communication/tests.rs b/client/finality-grandpa/src/communication/tests.rs
index 273804f7a4508..6a1513769aa26 100644
--- a/client/finality-grandpa/src/communication/tests.rs
+++ b/client/finality-grandpa/src/communication/tests.rs
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ impl sc_network_gossip::Network<Block> for TestNetwork {
 		let _ = self.sender.unbounded_send(Event::WriteNotification(who, message));
 	}
 
-	fn register_notifications_protocol(&self, _: ConsensusEngineId, _: Cow<'static, [u8]>) {}
+	fn register_notifications_protocol(&self, _: ConsensusEngineId, _: Cow<'static, str>) {}
 
 	fn announce(&self, block: Hash, _associated_data: Vec<u8>) {
 		let _ = self.sender.unbounded_send(Event::Announce(block));
diff --git a/client/network-gossip/src/bridge.rs b/client/network-gossip/src/bridge.rs
index df2a5c8e7e94a..70c2942597aa5 100644
--- a/client/network-gossip/src/bridge.rs
+++ b/client/network-gossip/src/bridge.rs
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ impl<B: BlockT> GossipEngine<B> {
 	pub fn new<N: Network<B> + Send + Clone + 'static>(
 		network: N,
 		engine_id: ConsensusEngineId,
-		protocol_name: impl Into<Cow<'static, [u8]>>,
+		protocol_name: impl Into<Cow<'static, str>>,
 		validator: Arc<dyn Validator<B>>,
 	) -> Self where B: 'static {
 		// We grab the event stream before registering the notifications protocol, otherwise we
@@ -333,7 +333,7 @@ mod tests {
 			unimplemented!();
 		}
 
-		fn register_notifications_protocol(&self, _: ConsensusEngineId, _: Cow<'static, [u8]>) {}
+		fn register_notifications_protocol(&self, _: ConsensusEngineId, _: Cow<'static, str>) {}
 
 		fn announce(&self, _: B::Hash, _: Vec<u8>) {
 			unimplemented!();
@@ -362,7 +362,7 @@ mod tests {
 		let mut gossip_engine = GossipEngine::<Block>::new(
 			network.clone(),
 			[1, 2, 3, 4],
-			"my_protocol".as_bytes(),
+			"my_protocol",
 			Arc::new(AllowAll{}),
 		);
 
@@ -390,7 +390,7 @@ mod tests {
 		let mut gossip_engine = GossipEngine::<Block>::new(
 			network.clone(),
 			engine_id.clone(),
-			"my_protocol".as_bytes(),
+			"my_protocol",
 			Arc::new(AllowAll{}),
 		);
 
@@ -525,7 +525,7 @@ mod tests {
 			let mut gossip_engine = GossipEngine::<Block>::new(
 				network.clone(),
 				engine_id.clone(),
-				"my_protocol".as_bytes(),
+				"my_protocol",
 				Arc::new(TestValidator{}),
 			);
 
diff --git a/client/network-gossip/src/lib.rs b/client/network-gossip/src/lib.rs
index 42aeca86cb275..1d566ed3cbba2 100644
--- a/client/network-gossip/src/lib.rs
+++ b/client/network-gossip/src/lib.rs
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ pub trait Network<B: BlockT> {
 	fn register_notifications_protocol(
 		&self,
 		engine_id: ConsensusEngineId,
-		protocol_name: Cow<'static, [u8]>,
+		protocol_name: Cow<'static, str>,
 	);
 
 	/// Notify everyone we're connected to that we have the given block.
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ impl<B: BlockT, H: ExHashT> Network<B> for Arc<NetworkService<B, H>> {
 	fn register_notifications_protocol(
 		&self,
 		engine_id: ConsensusEngineId,
-		protocol_name: Cow<'static, [u8]>,
+		protocol_name: Cow<'static, str>,
 	) {
 		NetworkService::register_notifications_protocol(self, engine_id, protocol_name)
 	}
diff --git a/client/network-gossip/src/state_machine.rs b/client/network-gossip/src/state_machine.rs
index 80a0f9e70bcbf..60c669ecb6680 100644
--- a/client/network-gossip/src/state_machine.rs
+++ b/client/network-gossip/src/state_machine.rs
@@ -489,7 +489,7 @@ mod tests {
 			unimplemented!();
 		}
 
-		fn register_notifications_protocol(&self, _: ConsensusEngineId, _: Cow<'static, [u8]>) {}
+		fn register_notifications_protocol(&self, _: ConsensusEngineId, _: Cow<'static, str>) {}
 
 		fn announce(&self, _: B::Hash, _: Vec<u8>) {
 			unimplemented!();
diff --git a/client/network/src/behaviour.rs b/client/network/src/behaviour.rs
index 4a47a26f55c24..2c399cfdf7707 100644
--- a/client/network/src/behaviour.rs
+++ b/client/network/src/behaviour.rs
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ impl<B: BlockT, H: ExHashT> Behaviour<B, H> {
 	pub fn register_notifications_protocol(
 		&mut self,
 		engine_id: ConsensusEngineId,
-		protocol_name: impl Into<Cow<'static, [u8]>>,
+		protocol_name: impl Into<Cow<'static, str>>,
 	) {
 		// This is the message that we will send to the remote as part of the initial handshake.
 		// At the moment, we force this to be an encoded `Roles`.
diff --git a/client/network/src/config.rs b/client/network/src/config.rs
index 5185befacf5ae..cf1f8393f380d 100644
--- a/client/network/src/config.rs
+++ b/client/network/src/config.rs
@@ -415,7 +415,7 @@ pub struct NetworkConfiguration {
 	pub node_key: NodeKeyConfig,
 	/// List of notifications protocols that the node supports. Must also include a
 	/// `ConsensusEngineId` for backwards-compatibility.
-	pub notifications_protocols: Vec<(ConsensusEngineId, Cow<'static, [u8]>)>,
+	pub notifications_protocols: Vec<(ConsensusEngineId, Cow<'static, str>)>,
 	/// List of request-response protocols that the node supports.
 	pub request_response_protocols: Vec<RequestResponseConfig>,
 	/// Maximum allowed number of incoming connections.
diff --git a/client/network/src/gossip/tests.rs b/client/network/src/gossip/tests.rs
index 6c3e26da13c64..9ba44f564e132 100644
--- a/client/network/src/gossip/tests.rs
+++ b/client/network/src/gossip/tests.rs
@@ -130,14 +130,14 @@ fn build_nodes_one_proto()
 	let listen_addr = config::build_multiaddr![Memory(rand::random::<u64>())];
 
 	let (node1, events_stream1) = build_test_full_node(config::NetworkConfiguration {
-		notifications_protocols: vec![(ENGINE_ID, From::from(&b"/foo"[..]))],
+		notifications_protocols: vec![(ENGINE_ID, From::from("/foo"))],
 		listen_addresses: vec![listen_addr.clone()],
 		transport: config::TransportConfig::MemoryOnly,
 		.. config::NetworkConfiguration::new_local()
 	});
 
 	let (node2, events_stream2) = build_test_full_node(config::NetworkConfiguration {
-		notifications_protocols: vec![(ENGINE_ID, From::from(&b"/foo"[..]))],
+		notifications_protocols: vec![(ENGINE_ID, From::from("/foo"))],
 		listen_addresses: vec![],
 		reserved_nodes: vec![config::MultiaddrWithPeerId {
 			multiaddr: listen_addr,
diff --git a/client/network/src/protocol.rs b/client/network/src/protocol.rs
index b1945b4dba47d..00cb845274c61 100644
--- a/client/network/src/protocol.rs
+++ b/client/network/src/protocol.rs
@@ -245,13 +245,13 @@ pub struct Protocol<B: BlockT, H: ExHashT> {
 	/// Handles opening the unique substream and sending and receiving raw messages.
 	behaviour: GenericProto,
 	/// For each legacy gossiping engine ID, the corresponding new protocol name.
-	protocol_name_by_engine: HashMap<ConsensusEngineId, Cow<'static, [u8]>>,
+	protocol_name_by_engine: HashMap<ConsensusEngineId, Cow<'static, str>>,
 	/// For each protocol name, the legacy equivalent.
-	legacy_equiv_by_name: HashMap<Cow<'static, [u8]>, Fallback>,
+	legacy_equiv_by_name: HashMap<Cow<'static, str>, Fallback>,
 	/// Name of the protocol used for transactions.
-	transactions_protocol: Cow<'static, [u8]>,
+	transactions_protocol: Cow<'static, str>,
 	/// Name of the protocol used for block announces.
-	block_announces_protocol: Cow<'static, [u8]>,
+	block_announces_protocol: Cow<'static, str>,
 	/// Prometheus metrics.
 	metrics: Option<Metrics>,
 	/// The `PeerId`'s of all boot nodes.
@@ -417,19 +417,21 @@ impl<B: BlockT, H: ExHashT> Protocol<B, H> {
 
 		let mut legacy_equiv_by_name = HashMap::new();
 
-		let transactions_protocol: Cow<'static, [u8]> = Cow::from({
-			let mut proto = b"/".to_vec();
-			proto.extend(protocol_id.as_ref().as_bytes());
-			proto.extend(b"/transactions/1");
+		let transactions_protocol: Cow<'static, str> = Cow::from({
+			let mut proto = String::new();
+			proto.push_str("/");
+			proto.push_str(protocol_id.as_ref());
+			proto.push_str("/transactions/1");
 			proto
 		});
 		behaviour.register_notif_protocol(transactions_protocol.clone(), Vec::new());
 		legacy_equiv_by_name.insert(transactions_protocol.clone(), Fallback::Transactions);
 
-		let block_announces_protocol: Cow<'static, [u8]> = Cow::from({
-			let mut proto = b"/".to_vec();
-			proto.extend(protocol_id.as_ref().as_bytes());
-			proto.extend(b"/block-announces/1");
+		let block_announces_protocol: Cow<'static, str> = Cow::from({
+			let mut proto = String::new();
+			proto.push_str("/");
+			proto.push_str(protocol_id.as_ref());
+			proto.push_str("/block-announces/1");
 			proto
 		});
 		behaviour.register_notif_protocol(
@@ -679,7 +681,7 @@ impl<B: BlockT, H: ExHashT> Protocol<B, H> {
 	fn send_message(
 		&mut self,
 		who: &PeerId,
-		message: Option<(Cow<'static, [u8]>, Vec<u8>)>,
+		message: Option<(Cow<'static, str>, Vec<u8>)>,
 		legacy: Message<B>,
 	) {
 		send_message::<B>(
@@ -1076,7 +1078,7 @@ impl<B: BlockT, H: ExHashT> Protocol<B, H> {
 	pub fn register_notifications_protocol<'a>(
 		&'a mut self,
 		engine_id: ConsensusEngineId,
-		protocol_name: impl Into<Cow<'static, [u8]>>,
+		protocol_name: impl Into<Cow<'static, str>>,
 		handshake_message: Vec<u8>,
 	) -> impl Iterator<Item = (&'a PeerId, Roles, &'a NotificationsSink)> + 'a {
 		let protocol_name = protocol_name.into();
@@ -1607,7 +1609,7 @@ fn send_message<B: BlockT>(
 	behaviour: &mut GenericProto,
 	stats: &mut HashMap<&'static str, PacketStats>,
 	who: &PeerId,
-	message: Option<(Cow<'static, [u8]>, Vec<u8>)>,
+	message: Option<(Cow<'static, str>, Vec<u8>)>,
 	legacy_message: Message<B>,
 ) {
 	let encoded = legacy_message.encode();
diff --git a/client/network/src/protocol/generic_proto/behaviour.rs b/client/network/src/protocol/generic_proto/behaviour.rs
index f965980640ad6..56a5b3fb0ab2d 100644
--- a/client/network/src/protocol/generic_proto/behaviour.rs
+++ b/client/network/src/protocol/generic_proto/behaviour.rs
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ pub struct GenericProto {
 	/// Notification protocols. Entries are only ever added and not removed.
 	/// Contains, for each protocol, the protocol name and the message to send as part of the
 	/// initial handshake.
-	notif_protocols: Vec<(Cow<'static, [u8]>, Arc<RwLock<Vec<u8>>>)>,
+	notif_protocols: Vec<(Cow<'static, str>, Arc<RwLock<Vec<u8>>>)>,
 
 	/// Receiver for instructions about who to connect to or disconnect from.
 	peerset: sc_peerset::Peerset,
@@ -322,7 +322,7 @@ pub enum GenericProtoOut {
 		/// Id of the peer the message came from.
 		peer_id: PeerId,
 		/// Engine corresponding to the message.
-		protocol_name: Cow<'static, [u8]>,
+		protocol_name: Cow<'static, str>,
 		/// Message that has been received.
 		message: BytesMut,
 	},
@@ -360,7 +360,7 @@ impl GenericProto {
 	/// will retain the protocols that were registered then, and not any new one.
 	pub fn register_notif_protocol(
 		&mut self,
-		protocol_name: impl Into<Cow<'static, [u8]>>,
+		protocol_name: impl Into<Cow<'static, str>>,
 		handshake_msg: impl Into<Vec<u8>>
 	) {
 		self.notif_protocols.push((protocol_name.into(), Arc::new(RwLock::new(handshake_msg.into()))));
@@ -371,10 +371,10 @@ impl GenericProto {
 	/// Has no effect if the protocol is unknown.
 	pub fn set_notif_protocol_handshake(
 		&mut self,
-		protocol_name: &[u8],
+		protocol_name: &str,
 		handshake_message: impl Into<Vec<u8>>
 	) {
-		if let Some(protocol) = self.notif_protocols.iter_mut().find(|(name, _)| name == &protocol_name) {
+		if let Some(protocol) = self.notif_protocols.iter_mut().find(|(name, _)| name == protocol_name) {
 			*protocol.1.write() = handshake_message.into();
 		}
 	}
@@ -551,7 +551,7 @@ impl GenericProto {
 	pub fn write_notification(
 		&mut self,
 		target: &PeerId,
-		protocol_name: Cow<'static, [u8]>,
+		protocol_name: Cow<'static, str>,
 		message: impl Into<Vec<u8>>,
 		encoded_fallback_message: Vec<u8>,
 	) {
@@ -569,11 +569,11 @@ impl GenericProto {
 			target: "sub-libp2p",
 			"External API => Notification({:?}, {:?})",
 			target,
-			str::from_utf8(&protocol_name)
+			protocol_name,
 		);
 		trace!(target: "sub-libp2p", "Handler({:?}) <= Packet", target);
 		notifs_sink.send_sync_notification(
-			&protocol_name,
+			protocol_name,
 			encoded_fallback_message,
 			message
 		);
@@ -1374,7 +1374,7 @@ impl NetworkBehaviour for GenericProto {
 					target: "sub-libp2p",
 					"Handler({:?}) => Notification({:?})",
 					source,
-					str::from_utf8(&protocol_name)
+					protocol_name,
 				);
 				trace!(target: "sub-libp2p", "External API <= Message({:?}, {:?})", protocol_name, source);
 				let event = GenericProtoOut::Notification {
diff --git a/client/network/src/protocol/generic_proto/handler/group.rs b/client/network/src/protocol/generic_proto/handler/group.rs
index bcdbaf848511f..43627f3d6041c 100644
--- a/client/network/src/protocol/generic_proto/handler/group.rs
+++ b/client/network/src/protocol/generic_proto/handler/group.rs
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ pub enum NotifsHandlerOut {
 	/// Received a message on a custom protocol substream.
 	Notification {
 		/// Name of the protocol of the message.
-		protocol_name: Cow<'static, [u8]>,
+		protocol_name: Cow<'static, str>,
 
 		/// Message that has been received.
 		message: BytesMut,
@@ -270,7 +270,7 @@ enum NotificationsSinkMessage {
 	/// Message emitted by [`NotificationsSink::reserve_notification`] and
 	/// [`NotificationsSink::write_notification_now`].
 	Notification {
-		protocol_name: Vec<u8>,
+		protocol_name: Cow<'static, str>,
 		encoded_fallback_message: Vec<u8>,
 		message: Vec<u8>,
 	},
@@ -311,13 +311,13 @@ impl NotificationsSink {
 	/// This method will be removed in a future version.
 	pub fn send_sync_notification<'a>(
 		&'a self,
-		protocol_name: &[u8],
+		protocol_name: Cow<'static, str>,
 		encoded_fallback_message: impl Into<Vec<u8>>,
 		message: impl Into<Vec<u8>>
 	) {
 		let mut lock = self.inner.sync_channel.lock();
 		let result = lock.try_send(NotificationsSinkMessage::Notification {
-			protocol_name: protocol_name.to_owned(),
+			protocol_name: protocol_name,
 			encoded_fallback_message: encoded_fallback_message.into(),
 			message: message.into()
 		});
@@ -336,12 +336,12 @@ impl NotificationsSink {
 	///
 	/// The protocol name is expected to be checked ahead of calling this method. It is a logic
 	/// error to send a notification using an unknown protocol.
-	pub async fn reserve_notification<'a>(&'a self, protocol_name: &[u8]) -> Result<Ready<'a>, ()> {
+	pub async fn reserve_notification<'a>(&'a self, protocol_name: Cow<'static, str>) -> Result<Ready<'a>, ()> {
 		let mut lock = self.inner.async_channel.lock().await;
 
 		let poll_ready = future::poll_fn(|cx| lock.poll_ready(cx)).await;
 		if poll_ready.is_ok() {
-			Ok(Ready { protocol_name: protocol_name.to_owned(), lock })
+			Ok(Ready { protocol_name: protocol_name, lock })
 		} else {
 			Err(())
 		}
@@ -355,7 +355,7 @@ pub struct Ready<'a> {
 	/// Guarded channel. The channel inside is guaranteed to not be full.
 	lock: FuturesMutexGuard<'a, mpsc::Sender<NotificationsSinkMessage>>,
 	/// Name of the protocol. Should match one of the protocols passed at initialization.
-	protocol_name: Vec<u8>,
+	protocol_name: Cow<'static, str>,
 }
 
 impl<'a> Ready<'a> {
@@ -392,7 +392,7 @@ impl NotifsHandlerProto {
 	/// ourselves or respond to handshake from the remote.
 	pub fn new(
 		legacy: RegisteredProtocol,
-		list: impl Into<Vec<(Cow<'static, [u8]>, Arc<RwLock<Vec<u8>>>)>>,
+		list: impl Into<Vec<(Cow<'static, str>, Arc<RwLock<Vec<u8>>>)>>,
 	) -> Self {
 		let list = list.into();
 
@@ -613,7 +613,7 @@ impl ProtocolsHandler for NotifsHandler {
 						message
 					} => {
 						for (handler, _) in &mut self.out_handlers {
-							if handler.protocol_name() == &protocol_name[..] && handler.is_open() {
+							if *handler.protocol_name() == protocol_name && handler.is_open() {
 								handler.send_or_discard(message);
 								continue 'poll_notifs_sink;
 							}
@@ -698,7 +698,7 @@ impl ProtocolsHandler for NotifsHandler {
 							if self.notifications_sink_rx.is_some() {
 								let msg = NotifsHandlerOut::Notification {
 									message,
-									protocol_name: handler.protocol_name().to_owned().into(),
+									protocol_name: handler.protocol_name().clone(),
 								};
 								return Poll::Ready(ProtocolsHandlerEvent::Custom(msg));
 							}
diff --git a/client/network/src/protocol/generic_proto/handler/notif_in.rs b/client/network/src/protocol/generic_proto/handler/notif_in.rs
index ddd78566fcd2a..9eb8ec7471610 100644
--- a/client/network/src/protocol/generic_proto/handler/notif_in.rs
+++ b/client/network/src/protocol/generic_proto/handler/notif_in.rs
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ pub enum NotifsInHandlerOut {
 impl NotifsInHandlerProto {
 	/// Builds a new `NotifsInHandlerProto`.
 	pub fn new(
-		protocol_name: impl Into<Cow<'static, [u8]>>
+		protocol_name: impl Into<Cow<'static, str>>
 	) -> Self {
 		NotifsInHandlerProto {
 			in_protocol: NotificationsIn::new(protocol_name),
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ impl IntoProtocolsHandler for NotifsInHandlerProto {
 
 impl NotifsInHandler {
 	/// Returns the name of the protocol that we accept.
-	pub fn protocol_name(&self) -> &[u8] {
+	pub fn protocol_name(&self) -> &Cow<'static, str> {
 		self.in_protocol.protocol_name()
 	}
 }
diff --git a/client/network/src/protocol/generic_proto/handler/notif_out.rs b/client/network/src/protocol/generic_proto/handler/notif_out.rs
index 4ba9d9a0b74aa..4079d2fa2a6b2 100644
--- a/client/network/src/protocol/generic_proto/handler/notif_out.rs
+++ b/client/network/src/protocol/generic_proto/handler/notif_out.rs
@@ -57,13 +57,13 @@ const INITIAL_KEEPALIVE_TIME: Duration = Duration::from_secs(5);
 /// See the documentation of [`NotifsOutHandler`] for more information.
 pub struct NotifsOutHandlerProto {
 	/// Name of the protocol to negotiate.
-	protocol_name: Cow<'static, [u8]>,
+	protocol_name: Cow<'static, str>,
 }
 
 impl NotifsOutHandlerProto {
 	/// Builds a new [`NotifsOutHandlerProto`]. Will use the given protocol name for the
 	/// notifications substream.
-	pub fn new(protocol_name: impl Into<Cow<'static, [u8]>>) -> Self {
+	pub fn new(protocol_name: impl Into<Cow<'static, str>>) -> Self {
 		NotifsOutHandlerProto {
 			protocol_name: protocol_name.into(),
 		}
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ impl IntoProtocolsHandler for NotifsOutHandlerProto {
 /// the remote for the purpose of sending notifications to it.
 pub struct NotifsOutHandler {
 	/// Name of the protocol to negotiate.
-	protocol_name: Cow<'static, [u8]>,
+	protocol_name: Cow<'static, str>,
 
 	/// Relationship with the node we're connected to.
 	state: State,
@@ -220,7 +220,7 @@ impl NotifsOutHandler {
 	}
 
 	/// Returns the name of the protocol that we negotiate.
-	pub fn protocol_name(&self) -> &[u8] {
+	pub fn protocol_name(&self) -> &Cow<'static, str> {
 		&self.protocol_name
 	}
 
diff --git a/client/network/src/protocol/generic_proto/upgrade/notifications.rs b/client/network/src/protocol/generic_proto/upgrade/notifications.rs
index 80fd7761f8088..6b636607d8031 100644
--- a/client/network/src/protocol/generic_proto/upgrade/notifications.rs
+++ b/client/network/src/protocol/generic_proto/upgrade/notifications.rs
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ const MAX_HANDSHAKE_SIZE: usize = 1024;
 #[derive(Debug, Clone)]
 pub struct NotificationsIn {
 	/// Protocol name to use when negotiating the substream.
-	protocol_name: Cow<'static, [u8]>,
+	protocol_name: Cow<'static, str>,
 }
 
 /// Upgrade that opens a substream, waits for the remote to accept by sending back a status
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ pub struct NotificationsIn {
 #[derive(Debug, Clone)]
 pub struct NotificationsOut {
 	/// Protocol name to use when negotiating the substream.
-	protocol_name: Cow<'static, [u8]>,
+	protocol_name: Cow<'static, str>,
 	/// Message to send when we start the handshake.
 	initial_message: Vec<u8>,
 }
@@ -100,14 +100,14 @@ pub struct NotificationsOutSubstream<TSubstream> {
 
 impl NotificationsIn {
 	/// Builds a new potential upgrade.
-	pub fn new(protocol_name: impl Into<Cow<'static, [u8]>>) -> Self {
+	pub fn new(protocol_name: impl Into<Cow<'static, str>>) -> Self {
 		NotificationsIn {
 			protocol_name: protocol_name.into(),
 		}
 	}
 
 	/// Returns the name of the protocol that we accept.
-	pub fn protocol_name(&self) -> &[u8] {
+	pub fn protocol_name(&self) -> &Cow<'static, str> {
 		&self.protocol_name
 	}
 }
@@ -117,7 +117,11 @@ impl UpgradeInfo for NotificationsIn {
 	type InfoIter = iter::Once<Self::Info>;
 
 	fn protocol_info(&self) -> Self::InfoIter {
-		iter::once(self.protocol_name.clone())
+		let bytes: Cow<'static, [u8]> = match &self.protocol_name {
+			Cow::Borrowed(s) => Cow::Borrowed(s.as_bytes()),
+			Cow::Owned(s) => Cow::Owned(s.as_bytes().to_vec())
+		};
+		iter::once(bytes)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -244,7 +248,7 @@ where TSubstream: AsyncRead + AsyncWrite + Unpin,
 
 impl NotificationsOut {
 	/// Builds a new potential upgrade.
-	pub fn new(protocol_name: impl Into<Cow<'static, [u8]>>, initial_message: impl Into<Vec<u8>>) -> Self {
+	pub fn new(protocol_name: impl Into<Cow<'static, str>>, initial_message: impl Into<Vec<u8>>) -> Self {
 		let initial_message = initial_message.into();
 		if initial_message.len() > MAX_HANDSHAKE_SIZE {
 			error!(target: "sub-libp2p", "Outbound networking handshake is above allowed protocol limit");
@@ -262,7 +266,11 @@ impl UpgradeInfo for NotificationsOut {
 	type InfoIter = iter::Once<Self::Info>;
 
 	fn protocol_info(&self) -> Self::InfoIter {
-		iter::once(self.protocol_name.clone())
+		let bytes: Cow<'static, [u8]> = match &self.protocol_name {
+			Cow::Borrowed(s) => Cow::Borrowed(s.as_bytes()),
+			Cow::Owned(s) => Cow::Owned(s.as_bytes().to_vec())
+		};
+		iter::once(bytes)
 	}
 }
 
@@ -378,10 +386,11 @@ mod tests {
 	use async_std::net::{TcpListener, TcpStream};
 	use futures::{prelude::*, channel::oneshot};
 	use libp2p::core::upgrade;
+	use std::borrow::Cow;
 
 	#[test]
 	fn basic_works() {
-		const PROTO_NAME: &'static [u8] = b"/test/proto/1";
+		const PROTO_NAME: Cow<'static, str> = Cow::Borrowed("/test/proto/1");
 		let (listener_addr_tx, listener_addr_rx) = oneshot::channel();
 
 		let client = async_std::task::spawn(async move {
@@ -420,7 +429,7 @@ mod tests {
 	fn empty_handshake() {
 		// Check that everything still works when the handshake messages are empty.
 
-		const PROTO_NAME: &'static [u8] = b"/test/proto/1";
+		const PROTO_NAME: Cow<'static, str> = Cow::Borrowed("/test/proto/1");
 		let (listener_addr_tx, listener_addr_rx) = oneshot::channel();
 
 		let client = async_std::task::spawn(async move {
@@ -457,7 +466,7 @@ mod tests {
 
 	#[test]
 	fn refused() {
-		const PROTO_NAME: &'static [u8] = b"/test/proto/1";
+		const PROTO_NAME: Cow<'static, str> = Cow::Borrowed("/test/proto/1");
 		let (listener_addr_tx, listener_addr_rx) = oneshot::channel();
 
 		let client = async_std::task::spawn(async move {
@@ -495,7 +504,7 @@ mod tests {
 
 	#[test]
 	fn large_initial_message_refused() {
-		const PROTO_NAME: &'static [u8] = b"/test/proto/1";
+		const PROTO_NAME: Cow<'static, str> = Cow::Borrowed("/test/proto/1");
 		let (listener_addr_tx, listener_addr_rx) = oneshot::channel();
 
 		let client = async_std::task::spawn(async move {
@@ -526,7 +535,7 @@ mod tests {
 
 	#[test]
 	fn large_handshake_refused() {
-		const PROTO_NAME: &'static [u8] = b"/test/proto/1";
+		const PROTO_NAME: Cow<'static, str> = Cow::Borrowed("/test/proto/1");
 		let (listener_addr_tx, listener_addr_rx) = oneshot::channel();
 
 		let client = async_std::task::spawn(async move {
diff --git a/client/network/src/service.rs b/client/network/src/service.rs
index 754b5b184c096..a3ac8371dc739 100644
--- a/client/network/src/service.rs
+++ b/client/network/src/service.rs
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ pub struct NetworkService<B: BlockT + 'static, H: ExHashT> {
 	/// that peer. Updated by the [`NetworkWorker`].
 	peers_notifications_sinks: Arc<Mutex<HashMap<(PeerId, ConsensusEngineId), NotificationsSink>>>,
 	/// For each legacy gossiping engine ID, the corresponding new protocol name.
-	protocol_name_by_engine: Mutex<HashMap<ConsensusEngineId, Cow<'static, [u8]>>>,
+	protocol_name_by_engine: Mutex<HashMap<ConsensusEngineId, Cow<'static, str>>>,
 	/// Field extracted from the [`Metrics`] struct and necessary to report the
 	/// notifications-related metrics.
 	notifications_sizes_metric: Option<HistogramVec>,
@@ -646,7 +646,7 @@ impl<B: BlockT + 'static, H: ExHashT> NetworkService<B, H> {
 				})
 			});
 
-			sink.send_sync_notification(&protocol_name, fallback, message);
+			sink.send_sync_notification(protocol_name, fallback, message);
 		} else {
 			return;
 		}
@@ -828,7 +828,7 @@ impl<B: BlockT + 'static, H: ExHashT> NetworkService<B, H> {
 	pub fn register_notifications_protocol(
 		&self,
 		engine_id: ConsensusEngineId,
-		protocol_name: impl Into<Cow<'static, [u8]>>,
+		protocol_name: impl Into<Cow<'static, str>>,
 	) {
 		let protocol_name = protocol_name.into();
 		self.protocol_name_by_engine.lock().insert(engine_id, protocol_name.clone());
@@ -1062,7 +1062,7 @@ pub struct NotificationSender {
 	sink: NotificationsSink,
 
 	/// Name of the protocol on the wire.
-	protocol_name: Cow<'static, [u8]>,
+	protocol_name: Cow<'static, str>,
 
 	/// Engine ID used for the fallback message.
 	engine_id: ConsensusEngineId,
@@ -1076,7 +1076,7 @@ impl NotificationSender {
 	/// Returns a future that resolves when the `NotificationSender` is ready to send a notification.
 	pub async fn ready<'a>(&'a self) -> Result<NotificationSenderReady<'a>, NotificationSenderError> {
 		Ok(NotificationSenderReady {
-			ready: match self.sink.reserve_notification(&self.protocol_name).await {
+			ready: match self.sink.reserve_notification(self.protocol_name.clone()).await {
 				Ok(r) => r,
 				Err(()) => return Err(NotificationSenderError::Closed),
 			},
@@ -1158,7 +1158,7 @@ enum ServiceToWorkerMsg<B: BlockT, H: ExHashT> {
 	},
 	RegisterNotifProtocol {
 		engine_id: ConsensusEngineId,
-		protocol_name: Cow<'static, [u8]>,
+		protocol_name: Cow<'static, str>,
 	},
 	DisconnectPeer(PeerId),
 	UpdateChain,
diff --git a/client/network/src/service/tests.rs b/client/network/src/service/tests.rs
index 5090362e37606..4b6f9dd156482 100644
--- a/client/network/src/service/tests.rs
+++ b/client/network/src/service/tests.rs
@@ -131,14 +131,14 @@ fn build_nodes_one_proto()
 	let listen_addr = config::build_multiaddr![Memory(rand::random::<u64>())];
 
 	let (node1, events_stream1) = build_test_full_node(config::NetworkConfiguration {
-		notifications_protocols: vec![(ENGINE_ID, From::from(&b"/foo"[..]))],
+		notifications_protocols: vec![(ENGINE_ID, From::from("/foo"))],
 		listen_addresses: vec![listen_addr.clone()],
 		transport: config::TransportConfig::MemoryOnly,
 		.. config::NetworkConfiguration::new_local()
 	});
 
 	let (node2, events_stream2) = build_test_full_node(config::NetworkConfiguration {
-		notifications_protocols: vec![(ENGINE_ID, From::from(&b"/foo"[..]))],
+		notifications_protocols: vec![(ENGINE_ID, From::from("/foo"))],
 		listen_addresses: vec![],
 		reserved_nodes: vec![config::MultiaddrWithPeerId {
 			multiaddr: listen_addr,
@@ -281,7 +281,7 @@ fn lots_of_incoming_peers_works() {
 	let listen_addr = config::build_multiaddr![Memory(rand::random::<u64>())];
 
 	let (main_node, _) = build_test_full_node(config::NetworkConfiguration {
-		notifications_protocols: vec![(ENGINE_ID, From::from(&b"/foo"[..]))],
+		notifications_protocols: vec![(ENGINE_ID, From::from("/foo"))],
 		listen_addresses: vec![listen_addr.clone()],
 		in_peers: u32::max_value(),
 		transport: config::TransportConfig::MemoryOnly,
@@ -298,7 +298,7 @@ fn lots_of_incoming_peers_works() {
 		let main_node_peer_id = main_node_peer_id.clone();
 
 		let (_dialing_node, event_stream) = build_test_full_node(config::NetworkConfiguration {
-			notifications_protocols: vec![(ENGINE_ID, From::from(&b"/foo"[..]))],
+			notifications_protocols: vec![(ENGINE_ID, From::from("/foo"))],
 			listen_addresses: vec![],
 			reserved_nodes: vec![config::MultiaddrWithPeerId {
 				multiaddr: listen_addr.clone(),