diff --git a/python/pyspark/sql/utils.py b/python/pyspark/sql/utils.py
index 7bc6a59ad3b26..8e04943294653 100644
--- a/python/pyspark/sql/utils.py
+++ b/python/pyspark/sql/utils.py
@@ -16,6 +16,10 @@
 #
 
 import py4j
+import sys
+
+if sys.version >= '3':
+    unicode = str
 
 
 class CapturedException(Exception):
@@ -24,7 +28,11 @@ def __init__(self, desc, stackTrace):
         self.stackTrace = stackTrace
 
     def __str__(self):
-        return repr(self.desc)
+        desc = self.desc
+        if isinstance(desc, unicode):
+            return str(desc.encode('utf-8'))
+        else:
+            return str(desc)
 
 
 class AnalysisException(CapturedException):