diff --git a/src/calibre/srv/ajax.py b/src/calibre/srv/ajax.py
index cd55312fb9..f4f3b68b61 100644
--- a/src/calibre/srv/ajax.py
+++ b/src/calibre/srv/ajax.py
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ def book_to_json(ctx, rd, db, book_id,
             for device_class in device_plugins():
                 if device_class.__class__.__name__ == device_for_template:
                     template = device_class.save_template()
-                    data['_filename_'] = create_upload_path(mi, unicode(book_id),
+                    data['_filename_'] = create_upload_path(mi, unicode_type(book_id),
                             template, sanitize, path_type=posixpath)
                     break