diff --git a/bin/tools/misc.py b/bin/tools/misc.py
index 933274ddf0c..a9157541a99 100644
--- a/bin/tools/misc.py
+++ b/bin/tools/misc.py
@@ -649,10 +649,6 @@ def ustr(value):
     @return: unicode string
     """
 
-    if (value is None) or (value is False):
-        return value
-    if not value:
-        return u''
     if isinstance(value, unicode):
         return value