diff --git a/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/accounts/tests/test_views.py b/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/accounts/tests/test_views.py
index 1f664bd456..1c3a480bd7 100644
--- a/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/accounts/tests/test_views.py
+++ b/openedx/core/djangoapps/user_api/accounts/tests/test_views.py
@@ -951,7 +951,7 @@ class UsernameReplacementViewTests(APITestCase):
         Helper function for creating headers for the JWT authentication.
         """
         token = create_jwt_for_user(user)
-        headers = {'HTTP_AUTHORIZATION': 'JWT {}'.format(token)}
+        headers = {'HTTP_AUTHORIZATION': u'JWT {}'.format(token)}
         return headers
 
     def call_api(self, user, data):