diff --git a/mopidy/frontends/mpd/server.py b/mopidy/frontends/mpd/server.py
index 8507e266..1be46ef4 100644
--- a/mopidy/frontends/mpd/server.py
+++ b/mopidy/frontends/mpd/server.py
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ class MpdServer(asyncore.dispatcher):
                 self._format_hostname(settings.MPD_SERVER_HOSTNAME),
                 settings.MPD_SERVER_PORT)
         except IOError, e:
-            logger.error('MPD server startup failed: %s' % e)
+            logger.error(u'MPD server startup failed: %s' % str(e).decode('utf-8'))
             sys.exit(1)
 
     def handle_accept(self):