diff --git a/osc/cmdln.py b/osc/cmdln.py
index 3d303b09..918a1da1 100644
--- a/osc/cmdln.py
+++ b/osc/cmdln.py
@@ -621,16 +621,16 @@ class RawCmdln(cmd.Cmd):
             ${name} man
         """
         mandate = datetime.utcfromtimestamp(int(os.environ.get('SOURCE_DATE_EPOCH', time.time())))
-        self.stdout.write(bytes(
+        self.stdout.write(
             self.man_header % {
                 'date': mandate.strftime('%b %Y'),
                 'version': self.get_version(),
                 'name': self.name,
                 'ucname': self.name.upper()
-                },
-            "utf-8"))
+                }
+            )
 
-        self.stdout.write(bytes(self.man_commands_header, "utf-8"))
+        self.stdout.write(self.man_commands_header)
         commands = self._help_get_command_list()
         for command, doc in commands:
             cmdname = command.split(' ')[0]
@@ -641,14 +641,14 @@ class RawCmdln(cmd.Cmd):
                     line = line[8:]
                 lines.append(man_escape(line))
 
-            self.stdout.write(bytes(
-                '.TP\n\\fB%s\\fR\n%s\n' % (command, '\n'.join(lines)), "utf-8"))
+            self.stdout.write(
+                '.TP\n\\fB%s\\fR\n%s\n' % (command, '\n'.join(lines)))
 
-        self.stdout.write(bytes(self.man_options_header, "utf-8"))
-        self.stdout.write(bytes(
-            man_escape(self._help_preprocess('${option_list}', None)), "utf-8"))
+        self.stdout.write(self.man_options_header)
+        self.stdout.write(
+            man_escape(self._help_preprocess('${option_list}', None)))
 
-        self.stdout.write(bytes(self.man_footer, "utf-8"))
+        self.stdout.write(self.man_footer)
 
         self.stdout.flush()