diff --git a/progit/doc_utils.py b/progit/doc_utils.py
index 0b3c77b..769e022 100644
--- a/progit/doc_utils.py
+++ b/progit/doc_utils.py
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ def convert_readme(content, ext):
     '''
     output = content
     if ext and ext in ['.rst']:
-        output = convert_doc(unicode(content))
+        output = convert_doc(content)
     elif ext and ext in ['.mk']:
         output = markdown.markdown(content)
     return output