diff --git a/anki/sound.py b/anki/sound.py
index 310ed4ec4..ba1a7e2a9 100644
--- a/anki/sound.py
+++ b/anki/sound.py
@@ -24,8 +24,8 @@ def hasSound(text):
 
 ##########################################################################
 
-processingSrc = "rec.wav"
-processingDst = "rec.mp3"
+processingSrc = u"rec.wav"
+processingDst = u"rec.mp3"
 processingChain = []
 recFiles = []
 
@@ -291,7 +291,7 @@ class PyAudioRecorder(_Recorder):
 
     def file(self):
         if self.encode:
-            tgt = "rec%d.mp3" % time.time()
+            tgt = u"rec%d.mp3" % time.time()
             os.rename(processingDst, tgt)
             return tgt
         else: