diff --git a/addons/mail/models/mail_template.py b/addons/mail/models/mail_template.py
index c84bc1bca2b..d94e657efc0 100644
--- a/addons/mail/models/mail_template.py
+++ b/addons/mail/models/mail_template.py
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ def format_tz(pool, cr, uid, dt, tz=False, format=False, context=None):
         format_time = lang_params.get("time_format", '%I-%M %p')
 
         fdate = ts.strftime(format_date).decode('utf-8')
-        ftime = ts.strftime(format_time)
+        ftime = ts.strftime(format_time).decode('utf-8')
         return "%s %s%s" % (fdate, ftime, (' (%s)' % tz) if tz else '')
 
 try: