diff --git a/confluent_server/confluent/core.py b/confluent_server/confluent/core.py
index 997781cd..7d08337c 100644
--- a/confluent_server/confluent/core.py
+++ b/confluent_server/confluent/core.py
@@ -69,6 +69,10 @@ import sys
 pluginmap = {}
 dispatch_plugins = (b'ipmi', u'ipmi', b'redfish', u'redfish', b'tsmsol', u'tsmsol')
 
+try:
+    unicode
+except NameError:
+    unicode = str
 
 def seek_element(currplace, currkey):
     try: