diff --git a/salt/state.py b/salt/state.py
index 7a52ebd477..b2511bf92b 100644
--- a/salt/state.py
+++ b/salt/state.py
@@ -233,8 +233,7 @@ def format_log(ret):
                             new = chg[pkg]['new']
                             if not new and new not in (False, None):
                                 new = 'absent'
-                            msg += '\'{0}\' changed from \'{1}\' to ' \
-                                   '\'{2}\'\n'.format(pkg, old, new)
+                            msg += u'\'{0}\' changed from \'{1}\' to \'{2}\'\n'.format(pkg, old, new)
             if not msg:
                 msg = str(ret['changes'])
             if ret['result'] is True or ret['result'] is None: