diff --git a/memory_profiler.py b/memory_profiler.py
index e03b313..3621324 100644
--- a/memory_profiler.py
+++ b/memory_profiler.py
@@ -48,13 +48,11 @@
 
 if PY2:
     import __builtin__ as builtins
+    to_str = lambda x: x
     from future_builtins import filter
 else:
     import builtins
-
-
-    def unicode(x, *args):
-        return str(x)
+    to_str = lambda x: str(x)
 
 # .. get available packages ..
 try:
@@ -778,7 +776,7 @@ def show_results(prof, stream=None, precision=1):
                 mem = u''
                 inc = u''
             tmp = template.format(lineno, mem, inc, all_lines[lineno - 1])
-            stream.write(unicode(tmp, 'UTF-8'))
+            stream.write(to_str(tmp))
         stream.write(u'\n\n')
 
 
diff --git a/test/test_stream_unicode.py b/test/test_stream_unicode.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8c80d27
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/test_stream_unicode.py
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8  -*-
+
+from memory_profiler import profile
+
+f = open('/dev/null', 'w')
+@profile(stream=f)
+def test_unicode(txt):
+    # test when unicode is present
+    txt = txt.replace (u"ی", u"ي") #Arabic Yah = ي
+    return txt
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+	test_unicode (u"ایست")