diff --git a/bindings/python/src/module.cpp b/bindings/python/src/module.cpp
index 47576889d..3168488e6 100644
--- a/bindings/python/src/module.cpp
+++ b/bindings/python/src/module.cpp
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 #define BOOST_PYTHON_USE_GCC_SYMBOL_VISIBILITY 1
 #endif
 
+#include "libtorrent/config.hpp"
 #include <boost/python/module.hpp>
 
 void bind_utility();
@@ -41,7 +42,9 @@ BOOST_PYTHON_MODULE(libtorrent)
     bind_entry();
     bind_session();
     bind_torrent_info();
+#if TORRENT_USE_WSTRING
     bind_unicode_string_conversion();
+#endif
     bind_torrent_handle();
     bind_torrent_status();
     bind_session_settings();
diff --git a/bindings/python/src/string.cpp b/bindings/python/src/string.cpp
index bb133bfd0..bac69af83 100644
--- a/bindings/python/src/string.cpp
+++ b/bindings/python/src/string.cpp
@@ -3,10 +3,14 @@
 // file LICENSE_1_0.txt or copy at http://www.boost.org/LICENSE_1_0.txt)
 
 #include <boost/python.hpp>
+#include "libtorrent/config.hpp"
 #include "libtorrent/utf8.hpp"
 #include <string>
 
+#if TORRENT_USE_WSTRING
+
 using namespace boost::python;
+using namespace libtorrent;
 
 struct unicode_from_python
 {
@@ -69,3 +73,5 @@ void bind_unicode_string_conversion()
     unicode_from_python();
 }
 
+#endif // TORRENT_USE_WSTRING
+
diff --git a/include/libtorrent/config.hpp b/include/libtorrent/config.hpp
index f324602e0..7b7c5fc16 100644
--- a/include/libtorrent/config.hpp
+++ b/include/libtorrent/config.hpp
@@ -377,11 +377,11 @@ inline int snprintf(char* buf, int len, char const* fmt, ...)
 #endif
 
 #ifndef TORRENT_USE_WSTRING
-#if defined UNICODE && !defined BOOST_NO_STD_WSTRING
+#if !defined BOOST_NO_STD_WSTRING
 #define TORRENT_USE_WSTRING 1
 #else
 #define TORRENT_USE_WSTRING 0
-#endif // UNICODE
+#endif // BOOST_NO_STD_WSTRING
 #endif // TORRENT_USE_WSTRING
 
 #ifndef TORRENT_HAS_FALLOCATE