diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/convert/single.py b/src/calibre/gui2/convert/single.py
index 9744771052..56290963c5 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/convert/single.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/convert/single.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ __license__   = 'GPL v3'
 __copyright__ = '2009, Kovid Goyal <kovid@kovidgoyal.net>'
 __docformat__ = 'restructuredtext en'
 
-import cPickle, shutil
+import shutil
 
 from PyQt5.Qt import QAbstractListModel, Qt, QFont, QModelIndex, QDialog, QCoreApplication, QSize
 
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ class Config(QDialog, Ui_Dialog):
     def recommendations(self):
         recs = [(k, v, OptionRecommendation.HIGH) for k, v in
                 self._recommendations.items()]
-        return cPickle.dumps(recs, -1)
+        return recs
 
     def show_group_help(self, index):
         widget = self._groups_model.widgets[index.row()]
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/tools.py b/src/calibre/gui2/tools.py
index fb5112124e..14d94afa89 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/tools.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/tools.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ __docformat__ = 'restructuredtext en'
 Logic for setting up conversion jobs
 '''
 
-import cPickle, os
+import os
 
 from PyQt5.Qt import QDialog, QProgressDialog, QTimer
 
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ def convert_single_ebook(parent, db, book_ids, auto_conversion=False,  # {{{
                 desc = _('Convert book %(num)d of %(total)d (%(title)s)') % \
                         {'num':i + 1, 'total':total, 'title':dtitle}
 
-                recs = cPickle.loads(d.recommendations)
+                recs = d.recommendations
                 if d.opf_file is not None:
                     recs.append(('read_metadata_from_opf', d.opf_file.name,
                         OptionRecommendation.HIGH))
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ def convert_bulk_ebook(parent, queue, db, book_ids, out_format=None, args=[]):
         return None
 
     output_format = d.output_format
-    user_recs = cPickle.loads(d.recommendations)
+    user_recs = d.recommendations
 
     book_ids = convert_existing(parent, db, book_ids, output_format)
     use_saved_single_settings = d.opt_individual_saved_settings.isChecked()