diff --git a/list_subtitles.py b/list_subtitles.py
index 96929d97b..1535137f4 100644
--- a/list_subtitles.py
+++ b/list_subtitles.py
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ from subliminal import *
 import pycountry
 import sqlite3
 import ast
-import sys
 
 from get_general_settings import *
 
@@ -39,8 +38,6 @@ def list_subtitles(file):
 def store_subtitles(file):
     languages = []
     actual_subtitles = []
-    if os.name == 'nt':
-        file = file.decode('utf8')
     if os.path.exists(file):
         if os.path.splitext(file)[1] == '.mkv':
             try:
@@ -112,7 +109,7 @@ def full_scan_subtitles():
     c_db.close()
 
     for episode in episodes:
-        store_subtitles(path_replace(episode[0]).encode('utf8'))
+        store_subtitles(path_replace(episode[0]))
 
 def series_scan_subtitles(no):
     conn_db = sqlite3.connect(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), 'data/db/bazarr.db'))
@@ -121,7 +118,7 @@ def series_scan_subtitles(no):
     c_db.close()
     
     for episode in episodes:
-        store_subtitles(path_replace(episode[0]).encode('utf8'))
+        store_subtitles(path_replace(episode[0]))
 
     list_missing_subtitles(no)
 
@@ -132,4 +129,4 @@ def new_scan_subtitles():
     c_db.close()
 
     for episode in episodes:
-        store_subtitles(path_replace(episode[0]).encode('utf8'))
+        store_subtitles(path_replace(episode[0]))