diff --git a/python/opendht.pyx b/python/opendht.pyx
index 173d8adbde566f6f8361a0078e8785f85a7d7577..49f457114aff9258673b29932c7b8c3fbab817d8 100644
--- a/python/opendht.pyx
+++ b/python/opendht.pyx
@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ cdef class DhtRunner(_WithID):
     def disableLogging(self):
         cpp.disableLogging(self.thisptr.get()[0])
     def enableFileLogging(self, str path):
-        cpp.enableFileLogging(self.thisptr.get()[0], path)
+        cpp.enableFileLogging(self.thisptr.get()[0], path.encode())
     def isRunning(self):
         return self.thisptr.get().isRunning()
     def getStorageLog(self):