diff --git a/openedx/core/djangoapps/password_policy/forms.py b/openedx/core/djangoapps/password_policy/forms.py
index 2d3afc5d71..f687415919 100644
--- a/openedx/core/djangoapps/password_policy/forms.py
+++ b/openedx/core/djangoapps/password_policy/forms.py
@@ -2,6 +2,9 @@
 Forms for the password policy app.
 """
 from __future__ import absolute_import
+
+import six
+
 from django.contrib import messages
 from django.contrib.admin.forms import AdminAuthenticationForm
 from django.forms import ValidationError
@@ -25,9 +28,9 @@ class PasswordPolicyAwareAdminAuthForm(AdminAuthenticationForm):
                 password_policy_compliance.enforce_compliance_on_login(self.user_cache, cleaned_data['password'])
             except password_policy_compliance.NonCompliantPasswordWarning as e:
                 # Allow login, but warn the user that they will be required to reset their password soon.
-                messages.warning(self.request, e.message)
+                messages.warning(self.request, six.text_type(e))
             except password_policy_compliance.NonCompliantPasswordException as e:
                 # Prevent the login attempt.
-                raise ValidationError(e.message)
+                raise ValidationError(six.text_type(e))
 
         return cleaned_data