diff --git a/doc/conf.py b/doc/conf.py
index 140a219838..1a9514e8b0 100644
--- a/doc/conf.py
+++ b/doc/conf.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 #
 # All configuration values have a default; values that are commented out
 # serve to show the default.
+from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
 # If extensions (or modules to document with autodoc) are in another directory,
 # add these directories to sys.path here. If the directory is relative to the