diff --git a/nova/objects/utils.py b/nova/objects/utils.py
index b802d8777b..b8a83904ca 100644
--- a/nova/objects/utils.py
+++ b/nova/objects/utils.py
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ import netaddr
 
 from nova.network import model as network_model
 from nova.openstack.common.gettextutils import _
-from nova.openstack.common import strutils
 from nova.openstack.common import timeutils
 
 
@@ -59,8 +58,6 @@ def str_or_none(val):
     """Attempt to stringify a value, or None."""
     if val is None:
         return val
-    elif isinstance(val, basestring):
-        return strutils.safe_encode(val)
     else:
         return str(val)
 
diff --git a/nova/tests/objects/test_objects.py b/nova/tests/objects/test_objects.py
index c05ffad479..2089c580c8 100644
--- a/nova/tests/objects/test_objects.py
+++ b/nova/tests/objects/test_objects.py
@@ -162,7 +162,6 @@ class TestUtils(test.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(utils.str_or_none('foo'), 'foo')
         self.assertEqual(utils.str_or_none(1), '1')
         self.assertEqual(utils.str_or_none(None), None)
-        self.assertEqual(utils.str_or_none(u'\u30bdfoo'), '\xe3\x82\xbdfoo')
 
     def test_ip_or_none(self):
         ip4 = netaddr.IPAddress('1.2.3.4', 4)