diff --git a/fleetactivitytracking/models.py b/fleetactivitytracking/models.py
index acd4c50c..7b93ede1 100644
--- a/fleetactivitytracking/models.py
+++ b/fleetactivitytracking/models.py
@@ -36,5 +36,5 @@ class Fat(models.Model):
         unique_together = (('character', 'fatlink'),)
 
     def __str__(self):
-        output = "Fat-link for %s" % self.character.character_name
-        return output.encode('utf-8')
+        return "Fat-link for %s" % self.character.character_name
+
diff --git a/optimer/models.py b/optimer/models.py
index 354d8dbe..d192a7d0 100644
--- a/optimer/models.py
+++ b/optimer/models.py
@@ -21,5 +21,4 @@ class optimer(models.Model):
     eve_character = models.ForeignKey(EveCharacter)
 
     def __str__(self):
-        output = self.operation_name
-        return output.encode('utf-8')
+        return self.operation_name
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index 34e4381c..1754b885 100755
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ dnspython
 passlib
 requests>=2.9.1
 bcrypt
-slugify
+python-slugify>=1.2
 requests-oauthlib
 sleekxmpp
 redis