diff --git a/tools/patman/series.py b/tools/patman/series.py
index 02a1113ad017ba6079c0ad4e480529ee8c0c22cf..a15f7625edcf29ca0b9138878f81e788ab1ea5ca 100644
--- a/tools/patman/series.py
+++ b/tools/patman/series.py
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ class Series(dict):
             cover_cc = [tools.FromUnicode(m) for m in cover_cc]
             cc_list = '\0'.join([tools.ToUnicode(x)
                                  for x in sorted(set(cover_cc + all_ccs))])
-            print(cover_fname, cc_list.encode('utf-8'), file=fd)
+            print(cover_fname, cc_list, file=fd)
 
         fd.close()
         return fname