diff --git a/tensorflow/python/saved_model/loader_impl.py b/tensorflow/python/saved_model/loader_impl.py
index 2df2bea428e..71f6ed16c9d 100644
--- a/tensorflow/python/saved_model/loader_impl.py
+++ b/tensorflow/python/saved_model/loader_impl.py
@@ -83,11 +83,11 @@ def parse_saved_model(export_dir):
   """
   # Build the path to the SavedModel in pbtxt format.
   path_to_pbtxt = os.path.join(
-      compat.as_bytes(export_dir),
+      compat.as_bytes(compat.path_to_str(export_dir)),
       compat.as_bytes(constants.SAVED_MODEL_FILENAME_PBTXT))
   # Build the path to the SavedModel in pb format.
   path_to_pb = os.path.join(
-      compat.as_bytes(export_dir),
+      compat.as_bytes(compat.path_to_str(export_dir)),
       compat.as_bytes(constants.SAVED_MODEL_FILENAME_PB))
 
   # Parse the SavedModel protocol buffer.