diff --git a/pysollib/mfxutil.py b/pysollib/mfxutil.py
index f461ed10..2d743b44 100644
--- a/pysollib/mfxutil.py
+++ b/pysollib/mfxutil.py
@@ -107,9 +107,9 @@ def print_err(s, level=1):
     elif level == 2:
         ss = PACKAGE+': DEBUG WARNING:'
     try:
-        print_(ss, s.encode(locale.getpreferredencoding()), file=sys.stderr)
-    except Exception:
         print_(ss, s, file=sys.stderr)
+    except Exception:
+        print_(ss, s.encode(locale.getpreferredencoding()), file=sys.stderr)
     sys.stderr.flush()