diff --git a/youtube_dl/FileDownloader.py b/youtube_dl/FileDownloader.py
index ed5a79f13..4449fe711 100644
--- a/youtube_dl/FileDownloader.py
+++ b/youtube_dl/FileDownloader.py
@@ -333,11 +333,15 @@ class FileDownloader(object):
 
 		title = info_dict['title']
 		matchtitle = self.params.get('matchtitle', False)
-		if matchtitle and not re.search(matchtitle, title, re.IGNORECASE):
-			return u'[download] "' + title + '" title did not match pattern "' + matchtitle + '"'
+		if matchtitle:
+			matchtitle = matchtitle.decode('utf8')
+			if not re.search(matchtitle, title, re.IGNORECASE):
+				return u'[download] "' + title + '" title did not match pattern "' + matchtitle + '"'
 		rejecttitle = self.params.get('rejecttitle', False)
-		if rejecttitle and re.search(rejecttitle, title, re.IGNORECASE):
-			return u'"' + title + '" title matched reject pattern "' + rejecttitle + '"'
+		if rejecttitle:
+			rejecttitle = rejecttitle.decode('utf8')
+			if re.search(rejecttitle, title, re.IGNORECASE):
+				return u'"' + title + '" title matched reject pattern "' + rejecttitle + '"'
 		return None
 
 	def process_info(self, info_dict):