diff --git a/journals/views.py b/journals/views.py
index 81ebaebce9d3cb16d9cca586d195158d00c8aafc..23c2685248346274dbc94a5f7dfb6c724aa9d9a5 100644
--- a/journals/views.py
+++ b/journals/views.py
@@ -768,7 +768,7 @@ def metadata_xml_deposit(request, doi_label, option='test'):
             doi=publication.doi_label.replace('.', '_'),
             timestamp=timestamp)
         f = open(settings.MEDIA_ROOT + path_with_timestamp, 'w')
-        f.write(publication.metadata_xml)
+        f.write(publication.metadata_xml.encode('utf8'))
         f.close()
 
         # Copy file