diff --git a/cliquet/tests/test_storage.py b/cliquet/tests/test_storage.py
index b9b71371..6a2efa3f 100644
--- a/cliquet/tests/test_storage.py
+++ b/cliquet/tests/test_storage.py
@@ -864,7 +864,7 @@ def test_raises_backenderror_when_remote_returns_500(self):
             error_response = requests.models.Response()
             error_response.status_code = 500
             error_response._content_consumed = True
-            error_response._content = 'Internal Error'
+            error_response._content = u'Internal Error'.encode('utf8')
             mocked.return_value = error_response
             self.assertRaises(exceptions.BackendError,
                               self.storage.get_all,
diff --git a/cliquet/tests/test_views_batch.py b/cliquet/tests/test_views_batch.py
index 792a0f54..234cb3c1 100644
--- a/cliquet/tests/test_views_batch.py
+++ b/cliquet/tests/test_views_batch.py
@@ -283,7 +283,7 @@ def test_subrequests_body_have_utf8_charset(self):
         self.post({'requests': [request]})
         subrequest, = self.request.invoke_subrequest.call_args[0]
         self.assertIn('charset=utf-8', subrequest.headers['Content-Type'])
-        wanted = {"json": u"\ud83d\ude02"}
+        wanted = {"json": u"😂"}
         self.assertEqual(subrequest.body.decode('utf8'),
                          json.dumps(wanted))