diff --git a/src/conversation_textview.py b/src/conversation_textview.py
index 19832ded4..d38cd40af 100644
--- a/src/conversation_textview.py
+++ b/src/conversation_textview.py
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import gtk.glade
 import pango
 import gobject
 import time
+import sys
 import tooltips
 import dialogs
 import locale
@@ -607,8 +608,9 @@ class ConversationTextview:
 			if day_str:
 				format += day_str + ' '
 			format += '%X' + after_str
-			tim_format = time.strftime(format, tim).decode(
-				locale.getpreferredencoding())
+			# format comes as unicode, because of day_str.
+			# we convert it to the encoding that we want
+			tim_format = time.strftime(format.encode('utf-8'), tim)
 			buffer.insert_with_tags_by_name(end_iter, tim_format + ' ',
 				*other_tags_for_time)
 		elif gajim.config.get('print_time') == 'sometimes':