diff --git a/Mailnag/backends/__init__.py b/Mailnag/backends/__init__.py
index b45b9db..2f1da81 100644
--- a/Mailnag/backends/__init__.py
+++ b/Mailnag/backends/__init__.py
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ def _str_to_folders(folders_str):
 
 
 def _folders_to_str(folders):
-	return json.dumps(folders, ensure_ascii=False).encode('utf-8')
+	return json.dumps(folders, ensure_ascii=False)
 
 
 def _str_to_bool(string):