diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/network/junos/_junos_template.py b/lib/ansible/modules/network/junos/_junos_template.py
index c65525d849..c50deeef2c 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/network/junos/_junos_template.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/network/junos/_junos_template.py
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ def main():
             "set per junos-pyez documentation")
 
     results = dict(changed=False)
-    results['_backup'] = str(module.config.get_config()).strip()
+    results['_backup'] = unicode(module.config.get_config()).strip()
 
     try:
         diff = module.config.load_config(src, commit=commit, replace=replace,
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/network/junos/junos_config.py b/lib/ansible/modules/network/junos/junos_config.py
index 3b5fdd1d1b..94d4ff8943 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/network/junos/junos_config.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/network/junos/junos_config.py
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ def config_to_commands(config):
     return commands
 
 def diff_commands(commands, config):
-    config = [str(c).replace("'", '') for c in config]
+    config = [unicode(c).replace("'", '') for c in config]
 
     updates = list()
     visited = set()