diff --git a/lib/takeover/web.py b/lib/takeover/web.py
index 8fab16c3b..40a403dc0 100644
--- a/lib/takeover/web.py
+++ b/lib/takeover/web.py
@@ -263,8 +263,8 @@ class Web:
 
                     with open(filename, "w+") as f:
                         _ = decloak(os.path.join(paths.SQLMAP_SHELL_PATH, "stager.%s_" % self.webApi))
-                        _ = _.replace("WRITABLE_DIR", directory.replace('/', '\\\\') if Backend.isOs(OS.WINDOWS) else directory)
-                        f.write(utf8encode(_))
+                        _ = _.replace("WRITABLE_DIR", utf8encode(directory.replace('/', '\\\\') if Backend.isOs(OS.WINDOWS) else directory))
+                        f.write(_)
 
                     self.unionWriteFile(filename, self.webStagerFilePath, "text", forceCheck=True)