diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4.py
index a78688a4507a..70152aac9f47 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_qt4.py
@@ -371,7 +371,7 @@ def _get_key(self, event):
                 key = key.lower()
 
         mods.reverse()
-        return u'+'.join(mods + [key])
+        return '+'.join(mods + [key])
 
     def new_timer(self, *args, **kwargs):
         """