diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_cairo.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_cairo.py
index d71c73fcd487..f7ecd12f32f9 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_cairo.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_cairo.py
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ def _draw_mathtext(self, gc, x, y, s, prop, angle):
 
             size = fontsize * self.dpi / 72.0
             ctx.set_font_size(size)
-            if isinstance(s, six.text_type):
+            if not six.PY3 and isinstance(s, six.text_type):
                 s = s.encode("utf-8")
             ctx.show_text(s)
             ctx.restore()