diff --git a/tools/patman/series.py b/tools/patman/series.py
index 38a452edad..c1b86521aa 100644
--- a/tools/patman/series.py
+++ b/tools/patman/series.py
@@ -235,7 +235,8 @@ class Series(dict):
 
         if cover_fname:
             cover_cc = gitutil.BuildEmailList(self.get('cover_cc', ''))
-            print(cover_fname, ', '.join(set(cover_cc + all_ccs)), file=fd)
+            cc_list = ', '.join([x.decode('utf-8') for x in set(cover_cc + all_ccs)])
+            print(cover_fname, cc_list.encode('utf-8'), file=fd)
 
         fd.close()
         return fname