diff --git a/python/helpers/pycharm/tcmessages.py b/python/helpers/pycharm/tcmessages.py
index dcb41305b949..1531212d8475 100644
--- a/python/helpers/pycharm/tcmessages.py
+++ b/python/helpers/pycharm/tcmessages.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ class TeamcityServiceMessages:
         self.prepend_linebreak = prepend_linebreak
     
     def escapeValue(self, value):
-        if isinstance(value, unicode):
+        if sys.version_info.major <= 2 and isinstance(value, unicode):
             s = value.encode("utf-8")
         else:
             s = str(value)