diff --git a/modules/GoogleTranslate.py b/modules/GoogleTranslate.py
index 1404352..62a8cf6 100644
--- a/modules/GoogleTranslate.py
+++ b/modules/GoogleTranslate.py
@@ -33,9 +33,6 @@ class GoogleTranslate(Module):
             fromlang = whats[1]
             tolang = whats[2]
             text = ' '.join(whats[3:])
-            try:
-                text = text.encode('utf-8')
-            except UnicodeDecodeError: pass
 
             langpair = '%s|%s' % (fromlang, tolang)
             gt_url = 'http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/services/language/translate'
@@ -46,9 +43,6 @@ class GoogleTranslate(Module):
             end_idx = translation.find('"}, "')
             translation = translation[:end_idx]
 
-            # decode the string, since it may include unicode. it will be encoded later.
-            translation = translation.decode('utf-8')
-
             # do some text conversion
             translation = translation.replace('\\u0026quot;', '"')
             translation = translation.replace('\\u0026amp;', '&')