diff --git a/src/Utils.py b/src/Utils.py
index e2fa9f071..0fd5bd9d4 100644
--- a/src/Utils.py
+++ b/src/Utils.py
@@ -335,8 +335,8 @@ def get_unicode_path_from_file_chooser(path):
     :rtype:      unicode
     :returns:    The Unicode version of path.
     """
-    # Don't make unicode of unicode
-    if isinstance(path, unicode):
+    # make omly unicode of path of type 'str'
+    if not (isinstance(path,  str)):
         return path
 
     if constfunc.win():
@@ -362,7 +362,8 @@ def get_unicode_path_from_env_var(path):
     :rtype:      unicode
     :returns:    The Unicode version of path.
     """
-    if isinstance(path, unicode):
+    # make omly unicode of path of type 'str'
+    if not (isinstance(path,  str)):
         return path
 
     if constfunc.win():