diff --git a/test_requests.py b/test_requests.py
index 87b47a19..b5be37fc 100755
--- a/test_requests.py
+++ b/test_requests.py
@@ -1064,7 +1064,7 @@ class RequestsTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
 
     def test_json_param_post_should_not_override_data_param(self):
         r = requests.Request(method='POST', url='http://httpbin.org/post',
-                             data={'stuff'.encode('utf-8'): 'elixr'},
+                             data={'stuff': 'elixr'},
                              json={'music': 'flute'})
         prep = r.prepare()
         assert 'stuff=elixr' == prep.body