diff --git a/mopidy/local/translator.py b/mopidy/local/translator.py
index 6fc53f63..16842f59 100644
--- a/mopidy/local/translator.py
+++ b/mopidy/local/translator.py
@@ -42,11 +42,11 @@ def path_to_local_track_uri(relpath):
     URI."""
     if isinstance(relpath, compat.text_type):
         relpath = relpath.encode('utf-8')
-    return b'local:track:%s' % urllib.quote(relpath)
+    return 'local:track:%s' % urllib.quote(relpath)
 
 
 def path_to_local_directory_uri(relpath):
     """Convert path relative to :confval:`local/media_dir` directory URI."""
     if isinstance(relpath, compat.text_type):
         relpath = relpath.encode('utf-8')
-    return b'local:directory:%s' % urllib.quote(relpath)
+    return 'local:directory:%s' % urllib.quote(relpath)
diff --git a/tests/local/test_translator.py b/tests/local/test_translator.py
index e28de173..7839cd58 100644
--- a/tests/local/test_translator.py
+++ b/tests/local/test_translator.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
 import pytest
 
+from mopidy import compat
 from mopidy.local import translator
 
 
@@ -89,7 +90,9 @@ def test_path_to_file_uri(path, uri):
     (b'\x00\x01\x02', 'local:track:%00%01%02'),
 ])
 def test_path_to_local_track_uri(path, uri):
-    assert translator.path_to_local_track_uri(path) == uri
+    result = translator.path_to_local_track_uri(path)
+    assert isinstance(result, compat.text_type)
+    assert result == uri
 
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize('path,uri', [
@@ -99,4 +102,6 @@ def test_path_to_local_track_uri(path, uri):
     (b'\x00\x01\x02', 'local:directory:%00%01%02'),
 ])
 def test_path_to_local_directory_uri(path, uri):
-    assert translator.path_to_local_directory_uri(path) == uri
+    result = translator.path_to_local_directory_uri(path)
+    assert isinstance(result, compat.text_type)
+    assert result == uri