diff --git a/awx/main/models/projects.py b/awx/main/models/projects.py
index 117d7d1dfb..28c6ec162d 100644
--- a/awx/main/models/projects.py
+++ b/awx/main/models/projects.py
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ class ProjectOptions(models.Model):
         results = []
         project_path = self.get_project_path()
         if project_path:
-            for dirpath, dirnames, filenames in os.walk(project_path):
+            for dirpath, dirnames, filenames in os.walk(unicode(project_path)):
                 for filename in filenames:
                     if os.path.splitext(filename)[-1] not in ['.yml', '.yaml']:
                         continue
diff --git a/awx/main/tests/base.py b/awx/main/tests/base.py
index c8b023e92a..8da29fa53e 100644
--- a/awx/main/tests/base.py
+++ b/awx/main/tests/base.py
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ class BaseTestMixin(object):
         self._temp_paths.append(project_dir)
         # Create temp playbook in project (if playbook content is given).
         if playbook_content:
-            handle, playbook_path = tempfile.mkstemp(suffix='.yml',
+            handle, playbook_path = tempfile.mkstemp(suffix=u'\u2620.yml',
                                                      dir=project_dir)
             test_playbook_file = os.fdopen(handle, 'w')
             test_playbook_file.write(playbook_content.encode('utf-8'))
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ class BaseTestMixin(object):
             self.object_ctr = self.object_ctr + 1
             results.append(self.make_project(
                 name="proj%s-%s" % (x, self.object_ctr),
-                description="proj%s" % x,
+                description=u"proj%s" % x,
                 created_by=created_by,
                 playbook_content=playbook_content,
                 role_playbooks=role_playbooks,