diff --git a/mopidy/file/library.py b/mopidy/file/library.py
index 6d426b85..9ead1d55 100644
--- a/mopidy/file/library.py
+++ b/mopidy/file/library.py
@@ -141,5 +141,5 @@ class FileLibraryProvider(backend.LibraryProvider):
     def _is_in_basedir(self, local_path):
         return any(
             path.is_path_inside_base_dir(
-                local_path, media_dir['path'].encode('utf-8'))
+                local_path, media_dir['path'])
             for media_dir in self._media_dirs)