diff --git a/tools/boilerplate_data/base_backend.py b/tools/boilerplate_data/base_backend.py
index 8f3b8895..c1c21e4c 100644
--- a/tools/boilerplate_data/base_backend.py
+++ b/tools/boilerplate_data/base_backend.py
@@ -9,8 +9,8 @@ __all__ = ['${r.classname}Backend']
 
 class ${r.classname}Backend(BaseBackend):
     NAME = '${r.name}'
-    DESCRIPTION = '${r.name} website'
-    MAINTAINER = '${r.author}'
+    DESCRIPTION = u'${r.name} website'
+    MAINTAINER = u'${r.author}'
     EMAIL = '${r.email}'
     VERSION = '${r.version}'
 
diff --git a/tools/boilerplate_data/comic_backend.py b/tools/boilerplate_data/comic_backend.py
index cf469c7d..42f69205 100644
--- a/tools/boilerplate_data/comic_backend.py
+++ b/tools/boilerplate_data/comic_backend.py
@@ -7,8 +7,8 @@ __all__ = ['${r.classname}Backend']
 
 class ${r.classname}Backend(GenericComicReaderBackend):
     NAME = '${r.name}'
-    DESCRIPTION = '${r.name} manga reading site'
-    MAINTAINER = '${r.author}'
+    DESCRIPTION = u'${r.name} manga reading site'
+    MAINTAINER = u'${r.author}'
     EMAIL = '${r.email}'
     VERSION = '${r.version}'