diff --git a/django/utils/translation/trans_real.py b/django/utils/translation/trans_real.py
index b8478354bd..25ca6f2471 100644
--- a/django/utils/translation/trans_real.py
+++ b/django/utils/translation/trans_real.py
@@ -447,16 +447,16 @@ def templatize(src, origin=None):
     for t in Lexer(src, origin).tokenize():
         if incomment:
             if t.token_type == TOKEN_BLOCK and t.contents == 'endcomment':
-                content = u''.join(comment)
+                content = ''.join(comment)
                 translators_comment_start = None
                 for lineno, line in enumerate(content.splitlines(True)):
                     if line.lstrip().startswith(TRANSLATOR_COMMENT_MARK):
                         translators_comment_start = lineno
                 for lineno, line in enumerate(content.splitlines(True)):
                     if translators_comment_start is not None and lineno >= translators_comment_start:
-                        out.write(u' # %s' % line)
+                        out.write(' # %s' % line)
                     else:
-                        out.write(u' #\n')
+                        out.write(' #\n')
                 incomment = False
                 comment = []
             else:
diff --git a/tests/regressiontests/i18n/commands/extraction.py b/tests/regressiontests/i18n/commands/extraction.py
index 0d70d2641d..e5290406ab 100644
--- a/tests/regressiontests/i18n/commands/extraction.py
+++ b/tests/regressiontests/i18n/commands/extraction.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+# -*- encoding: utf-8 -*-
 import os
 import re
 import shutil
@@ -63,6 +64,9 @@ class BasicExtractorTests(ExtractorTests):
         self.assertTrue('#. Translators: One-line translator comment #4' in po_contents)
         self.assertTrue('#. Translators: Two-line translator comment #4\n#. continued here.' in po_contents)
 
+        self.assertTrue('#. Translators: One-line translator comment #5 -- with non ASCII characters: áéíóúö' in po_contents)
+        self.assertTrue('#. Translators: Two-line translator comment #5 -- with non ASCII characters: áéíóúö\n#. continued here.' in po_contents)
+
     def test_templatize(self):
         os.chdir(self.test_dir)
         management.call_command('makemessages', locale=LOCALE, verbosity=0)
diff --git a/tests/regressiontests/i18n/commands/templates/test.html b/tests/regressiontests/i18n/commands/templates/test.html
index 86c7772580..b5d705c132 100644
--- a/tests/regressiontests/i18n/commands/templates/test.html
+++ b/tests/regressiontests/i18n/commands/templates/test.html
@@ -50,3 +50,10 @@ continued here.
 {% comment %}  Translators: Two-line translator comment #4
 continued here.{% endcomment %}
 {% trans "Translatable literal #4b" %}
+
+{% comment %} Translators: One-line translator comment #5 -- with non ASCII characters: áéíóúö{% endcomment %}
+{% trans "Translatable literal #5a" %}
+
+{% comment %}  Translators: Two-line translator comment #5 -- with non ASCII characters: áéíóúö
+continued here.{% endcomment %}
+{% trans "Translatable literal #6b" %}