diff --git a/mps/tool/branch b/mps/tool/branch
index 7de38f08d29..c8456ea3362 100755
--- a/mps/tool/branch
+++ b/mps/tool/branch
@@ -276,7 +276,7 @@ def main(argv):
 
         # Invent a UUID to use as the section title for the branch in
         # the Git Fusion configuration files.
-        args.uuid = uuid.uuid5(uuid.NAMESPACE_URL, args.child.encode('utf7'))
+        args.uuid = uuid.uuid5(uuid.NAMESPACE_URL, str(args.child))
         print(fmt("uuid={uuid}"))
 
         for repo in GF_REPOS: