diff --git a/tests/test_loader.py b/tests/test_loader.py
index 2693a18d9..9d07eb95b 100644
--- a/tests/test_loader.py
+++ b/tests/test_loader.py
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ class BasicItemLoaderTest(unittest.TestCase):
         il = TestItemLoader()
         il.add_value('name', [u'$10'])
         try:
-            float('$10')
+            float(u'$10')
         except Exception as e:
             expected_exc_str = str(e)