diff --git a/common/djangoapps/third_party_auth/models.py b/common/djangoapps/third_party_auth/models.py
index 4ab0357d95..f45b75d2c4 100644
--- a/common/djangoapps/third_party_auth/models.py
+++ b/common/djangoapps/third_party_auth/models.py
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ _LTI_BACKENDS = [backend_class.name for backend_class in _load_backend_classes(L
 
 DEFAULT_SAML_CONTACT = {
     # Default contact information to put into the SAML metadata that gets generated by python-saml.
-    "givenName": "{} Support".format(
+    "givenName": u"{} Support".format(
         configuration_helpers.get_value('PLATFORM_NAME', settings.PLATFORM_NAME),
     ),
     "emailAddress": configuration_helpers.get_value('TECH_SUPPORT_EMAIL', settings.TECH_SUPPORT_EMAIL),