diff --git a/dr.botzo.py b/dr.botzo.py
index f153b3c..759bae1 100644
--- a/dr.botzo.py
+++ b/dr.botzo.py
@@ -52,21 +52,15 @@ class DrBotServerConnection(irclib.ServerConnection):
                 splitpos = text.rfind(' ', 0, splitspace)
                 splittext = text[0:splitpos] + ' ' + splitter
                 text = splitter + ' ' + text[splitpos+1:]
-                self.send_raw("PRIVMSG %s :%s" % (target, unicode(splittext).encode('utf-8')))
+                self.send_raw("PRIVMSG %s :%s" % (target, splittext))
 
                 times = times + 1
                 if times >= 4:
                     return
 
             # done splitting
-            try:
-                text = unicode(text).encode('utf-8')
-            except UnicodeDecodeError: pass
             self.send_raw("PRIVMSG %s :%s" % (target, text))
         else:
-            try:
-                text = unicode(text).encode('utf-8')
-            except UnicodeDecodeError: pass
             self.send_raw("PRIVMSG %s :%s" % (target, text))
 
 class DrBotIRC(irclib.IRC):