diff --git a/gramps/plugins/lib/maps/geography.py b/gramps/plugins/lib/maps/geography.py
index 34b4c96ab..0ac6d29ee 100644
--- a/gramps/plugins/lib/maps/geography.py
+++ b/gramps/plugins/lib/maps/geography.py
@@ -150,11 +150,15 @@ class GeoGraphyView(OsmGps, NavigationView):
         self.geo_mainmap = None
         path = os.path.join(ROOT_DIR, "images", "48x48",
                             ('gramps-geo-mainmap' + '.png' ))
-        pathu = path.encode(sys.getfilesystemencoding())
+        pathu = path
+        if sys.version_info[0] < 3:
+            pathu = path.encode(sys.getfilesystemencoding())
         self.geo_mainmap = cairo.ImageSurface.create_from_png(pathu)
         path = os.path.join(ROOT_DIR, "images", "48x48",
                             ('gramps-geo-altmap' + '.png' ))
-        pathu = path.encode(sys.getfilesystemencoding())
+        pathu = path
+        if sys.version_info[0] < 3:
+            pathu = path.encode(sys.getfilesystemencoding())
         self.geo_altmap = cairo.ImageSurface.create_from_png(pathu)
         if ( config.get('geography.map_service') in
             ( constants.OPENSTREETMAP,
@@ -169,7 +173,9 @@ class GeoGraphyView(OsmGps, NavigationView):
                     EventType.MARRIAGE ):
             path = os.path.join(ROOT_DIR, "images", "48x48",
                                 (constants.ICONS.get(int(ident), default_image) + '.png' ))
-            pathu = path.encode(sys.getfilesystemencoding())
+            pathu = path
+            if sys.version_info[0] < 3:
+                pathu = path.encode(sys.getfilesystemencoding())
             self.geo_othermap[ident] = cairo.ImageSurface.create_from_png(pathu)
 
     def change_page(self):
diff --git a/gramps/plugins/view/pedigreeview.py b/gramps/plugins/view/pedigreeview.py
index 1b94e2773..32475083c 100644
--- a/gramps/plugins/view/pedigreeview.py
+++ b/gramps/plugins/view/pedigreeview.py
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ class PersonBoxWidgetCairo(_PersonWidgetBase):
         self.img_surf = None    
         if image:
             image_path = self.get_image(dbstate, person)
-            if isinstance(image_path, STRTYPE):
+            if sys.version_info[0] < 3 and isinstance(image_path, STRTYPE):
                 image_path = image_path.encode(sys.getfilesystemencoding())
             if image_path and os.path.exists(image_path):
                 self.img_surf = cairo.ImageSurface.create_from_png(image_path)