diff --git a/pysollib/hint.py b/pysollib/hint.py
index 562c48cd..e37c08a8 100644
--- a/pysollib/hint.py
+++ b/pysollib/hint.py
@@ -879,7 +879,7 @@ class FreeCellSolver_Hint(Base_Solver_Hint):
         # Based on https://stackoverflow.com/questions/8898294 - thanks!
         def mydecode(s):
             if sys.version_info < (3,):
-                return s
+                pass  # return s
             for encoding in "utf-8-sig", "utf-8":
                 try:
                     return s.decode(encoding)
diff --git a/tests/lib/pysol_tests/import_file1.py b/tests/lib/pysol_tests/import_file1.py
index d1f8f126..de76ad86 100644
--- a/tests/lib/pysol_tests/import_file1.py
+++ b/tests/lib/pysol_tests/import_file1.py
@@ -118,6 +118,20 @@ KD QC 5C QH 6S 3D
 8S 7H 3H 2C AC 7D
 ''', 'import worked with Ts')
 
+    def test_import_utf8_bom(self):
+        return self._successful_import(
+            'tests/unit/data/624-with-utf8-bom.board',
+            '''FC: - - - -
+KC 6H 4C QS 2D 4S AS
+4H TH 2S JH 2H 9S AH
+3S 6C 9H AD KH QD 7C
+3C JS 5H KS TC 9C 8C
+4D 9D 7S JC 5D TS
+KD QC 5C QH 6S 3D
+5S JD 8D 6D TD 8H
+8S 7H 3H 2C AC 7D
+''', 'import worked with utf-8 bom')
+
 
 def mymain():
     from pycotap import TAPTestRunner
diff --git a/tests/unit/data/624-with-utf8-bom.board b/tests/unit/data/624-with-utf8-bom.board
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3bf83178
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/data/624-with-utf8-bom.board
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+: KC 6H 4C QS 2D 4S AS
+: 4H TH 2S JH 2H 9S AH
+: 3S 6C 9H AD KH QD 7C
+: 3C JS 5H KS TC 9C 8C
+: 4D 9D 7S JC 5D TS
+: KD QC 5C QH 6S 3D
+: 5S JD 8D 6D TD 8H
+: 8S 7H 3H 2C AC 7D