diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/__init__.py b/src/calibre/gui2/__init__.py
index 015df60143..873020d95a 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/__init__.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/__init__.py
@@ -629,12 +629,12 @@ class FileDialog(QObject):
         if combine_file_and_saved_dir:
             bn = os.path.basename(default_dir)
             prev = dynamic.get(self.dialog_name,
-                    os.path.expanduser('~'))
+                    os.path.expanduser(u'~'))
             if os.path.exists(prev):
                 if os.path.isfile(prev):
                     prev = os.path.dirname(prev)
             else:
-                prev = os.path.expanduser('~')
+                prev = os.path.expanduser(u'~')
             initial_dir = os.path.join(prev, bn)
         elif no_save_dir:
             initial_dir = os.path.expanduser(default_dir)