diff --git a/gluon/languages.py b/gluon/languages.py
index c0f922a2..f2445fe9 100644
--- a/gluon/languages.py
+++ b/gluon/languages.py
@@ -974,7 +974,7 @@ class translator(object):
                     word = w[1:]
                     fun = cap_fun
                 s = fun(self.plural(word, n))
-                return to_unicode(s)
+                return s.encode()
 
             s = m.group(1)
             part = regex_plural_tuple.sub(sub_tuple, s)