diff --git a/pyreadline/lineeditor/history.py b/pyreadline/lineeditor/history.py
index dd1362f..2716417 100644
--- a/pyreadline/lineeditor/history.py
+++ b/pyreadline/lineeditor/history.py
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ class LineHistory(object):
         fp = open(filename, u'wb')
         for line in self.history[-self.history_length:]:
             fp.write(ensure_str(line.get_line_text()))
-            fp.write(u'\n')
+            fp.write('\n'.encode('ascii'))
         fp.close()