diff --git a/django/core/mail/message.py b/django/core/mail/message.py
index 95762ff89d..5bcb588c10 100644
--- a/django/core/mail/message.py
+++ b/django/core/mail/message.py
@@ -132,6 +132,8 @@ class MIMEMixin():
         """
         fp = six.StringIO()
         g = generator.Generator(fp, mangle_from_=False)
+        if sys.version_info < (2, 6, 6) and isinstance(self._payload, six.text_type):
+            self._payload = self._payload.encode(self._charset.output_charset)
         g.flatten(self, unixfrom=unixfrom)
         return fp.getvalue()
 
diff --git a/docs/releases/1.6.6.txt b/docs/releases/1.6.6.txt
index fb182f5dcb..92c330dbca 100644
--- a/docs/releases/1.6.6.txt
+++ b/docs/releases/1.6.6.txt
@@ -30,3 +30,6 @@ Bugfixes
 * Fixed the "ORA-01843: not a valid month" errors when using Unicode
   with older versions of Oracle server
   (`#20292 <https://code.djangoproject.com/ticket/20292>`_).
+
+* Restored bug fix for sending unicode email with Python 2.6.5 and below
+  (`#19107 <https://code.djangoproject.com/ticket/19107>`_).