diff --git a/EDMarketConnector.py b/EDMarketConnector.py
index 81a59079..2a79ab71 100755
--- a/EDMarketConnector.py
+++ b/EDMarketConnector.py
@@ -503,7 +503,7 @@ class AppWindow(object):
             play_bad = True
 
         if not self.status['text']:	# no errors
-            self.status['text'] = strftime(_('Last updated at {HH}:{MM}:{SS}').format(HH='%H', MM='%M', SS='%S').encode('utf-8'), localtime(querytime)).decode('utf-8')
+            self.status['text'] = strftime(_('Last updated at {HH}:{MM}:{SS}').format(HH='%H', MM='%M', SS='%S'), localtime(querytime))
         if play_sound and play_bad:
             hotkeymgr.play_bad()