diff --git a/tailbone/templates/base.mako b/tailbone/templates/base.mako
index f06edc91..9bc9dfa4 100644
--- a/tailbone/templates/base.mako
+++ b/tailbone/templates/base.mako
@@ -87,15 +87,16 @@
 
               % if show_prev_next is not Undefined and show_prev_next:
                   <div style="float: right;">
+                    ## NOTE: the u"" literals seem to be required for python2..not sure why
                     % if prev_url:
-                        ${h.link_to("« Older", prev_url, class_='button autodisable')}
+                        ${h.link_to(u"« Older", prev_url, class_='button autodisable')}
                     % else:
-                        ${h.link_to("« Older", '#', class_='button', disabled='disabled')}
+                        ${h.link_to(u"« Older", '#', class_='button', disabled='disabled')}
                     % endif
                     % if next_url:
-                        ${h.link_to("Newer »", next_url, class_='button autodisable')}
+                        ${h.link_to(u"Newer »", next_url, class_='button autodisable')}
                     % else:
-                        ${h.link_to("Newer »", '#', class_='button', disabled='disabled')}
+                        ${h.link_to(u"Newer »", '#', class_='button', disabled='disabled')}
                     % endif
                   </div>
               % endif