diff --git a/lib/svtplay_dl/service/tv4play.py b/lib/svtplay_dl/service/tv4play.py
index 192f2dc..b70e77f 100644
--- a/lib/svtplay_dl/service/tv4play.py
+++ b/lib/svtplay_dl/service/tv4play.py
@@ -204,7 +204,10 @@ class Tv4play(Service, OpenGraphThumbMixin):
         self.cookies = data.cookies
         fail = re.search("<p class='failed-login'>([^<]+)</p>", data.text)
         if fail:
-            return ServiceError(fail.group(1))
+            message = fail.group(1)
+            if is_py2:
+                message = message.encode("utf8")
+            return ServiceError(message)
         return True