diff --git a/src/bitmessagemain.py b/src/bitmessagemain.py
index 4a27f967..9280c947 100755
--- a/src/bitmessagemain.py
+++ b/src/bitmessagemain.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ The PyBitmessage startup script
 import os
 import sys
 
-app_dir = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))
+app_dir = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(unicode(__file__)))
 os.chdir(app_dir)
 sys.path.insert(0, app_dir)