diff --git a/lib/core/convert.py b/lib/core/convert.py
index 406ef9d5b..4f48de409 100644
--- a/lib/core/convert.py
+++ b/lib/core/convert.py
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ def stdoutencode(data):
         else:
             retVal = data.encode(sys.stdout.encoding)
     except:
-        retVal = data.encode(UNICODE_ENCODING)
+        retVal = data.encode(UNICODE_ENCODING) if isinstance(data, unicode) else data
 
     return retVal