diff --git a/pelican/tools/templates/pelicanconf.py.in b/pelican/tools/templates/pelicanconf.py.in
index 265b59c2..5d96051d 100644
--- a/pelican/tools/templates/pelicanconf.py.in
+++ b/pelican/tools/templates/pelicanconf.py.in
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*- #
+from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
 AUTHOR = $author
 SITENAME = $sitename