diff --git a/amsn2/backend/defaultaccountbackend.py b/amsn2/backend/defaultaccountbackend.py
index dfd2337b..70d29dc5 100644
--- a/amsn2/backend/defaultaccountbackend.py
+++ b/amsn2/backend/defaultaccountbackend.py
@@ -186,5 +186,4 @@ def get_file_location_DP(self, email, uid, shac):
         return os.path.join(dir, shac.encode("hex")+".img")
 
     def _get_dir(self, email):
-	email = str(email)
         return email.lower().strip().replace("@","_at_")