diff --git a/src/calibre/__init__.py b/src/calibre/__init__.py
index d96f48f9a5..f105db8879 100644
--- a/src/calibre/__init__.py
+++ b/src/calibre/__init__.py
@@ -544,7 +544,7 @@ def strftime(fmt, t=None):
     ans = None
     if iswindows:
         if isinstance(fmt, unicode):
-            fmt = fmt.encode('mbcs')
+            fmt = fmt.encode('mbcs', 'replace')
         fmt = fmt.replace(b'%e', b'%#d')
         ans = plugins['winutil'][0].strftime(fmt, t)
     else:
diff --git a/src/calibre/web/feeds/templates.py b/src/calibre/web/feeds/templates.py
index 3ed689fe59..a3fe823333 100644
--- a/src/calibre/web/feeds/templates.py
+++ b/src/calibre/web/feeds/templates.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ from lxml.html.builder import HTML, HEAD, TITLE, STYLE, DIV, BODY, \
         STRONG, BR, SPAN, A, HR, UL, LI, H2, H3, IMG, P as PT, \
         TABLE, TD, TR
 
-from calibre import preferred_encoding, strftime, isbytestring
+from calibre import strftime, isbytestring
 
 
 def CLASS(*args, **kwargs):  # class is a reserved word in Python
@@ -88,8 +88,6 @@ class IndexTemplate(Template):
 
     def _generate(self, title, masthead, datefmt, feeds, extra_css=None, style=None):
         self.IS_HTML = False
-        if isinstance(datefmt, unicode):
-            datefmt = datefmt.encode(preferred_encoding)
         date = strftime(datefmt)
         head = HEAD(TITLE(title))
         if style:
@@ -245,11 +243,7 @@ class NavBarTemplate(Template):
 class TouchscreenIndexTemplate(Template):
 
     def _generate(self, title, masthead, datefmt, feeds, extra_css=None, style=None):
-
         self.IS_HTML = False
-
-        if isinstance(datefmt, unicode):
-            datefmt = datefmt.encode(preferred_encoding)
         date = '%s, %s %s, %s' % (strftime('%A'), strftime('%B'), strftime('%d').lstrip('0'), strftime('%Y'))
         masthead_p = etree.Element("p")
         masthead_p.set("style","text-align:center")