diff --git a/plugins/im-status/im-status.py b/plugins/im-status/im-status.py
index 4740127c2..790a123c7 100644
--- a/plugins/im-status/im-status.py
+++ b/plugins/im-status/im-status.py
@@ -159,9 +159,9 @@ def set_status_from_entry (self):
 
   def set_status (self):
     subs = {
-        'artist': unicode (self.current_artist, encoding='utf-8'),
-        'album': unicode (self.current_album, encoding='utf-8'),
-        'title': unicode (self.current_title, encoding='utf-8')
+        'artist': self.current_artist,
+        'album': self.current_album,
+        'title': self.current_title
     }
     if self.current_artist:
       if self.current_title: