diff --git a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/modulestore/xml_importer.py b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/modulestore/xml_importer.py
index 709a431462..f9f1806b2d 100644
--- a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/modulestore/xml_importer.py
+++ b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/modulestore/xml_importer.py
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ def import_static_content(modules, course_loc, course_data_path, static_content_
             try:
                 content_path = os.path.join(dirname, filename)
                 if verbose:
-                    log.debug('importing static content %s...', content_path.encode("utf-8"))
+                    log.debug('importing static content %s...', content_path)
 
                 fullname_with_subpath = content_path.replace(static_dir, '')  # strip away leading path from the name
                 if fullname_with_subpath.startswith('/'):