diff --git a/jedi/api/__init__.py b/jedi/api/__init__.py
index 1b62ee23..5459e446 100644
--- a/jedi/api/__init__.py
+++ b/jedi/api/__init__.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import sys
 from parso.python import tree
 from parso import python_bytes_to_unicode, split_lines
 
+from jedi._compatibility import force_unicode, is_py3
 from jedi.parser_utils import get_executable_nodes
 from jedi import debug
 from jedi import settings
@@ -111,6 +112,9 @@ class Script(object):
         cache.clear_time_caches()
         debug.reset_time()
 
+        if sys_path is not None and not is_py3:
+            sys_path = list(map(force_unicode, sys_path))
+
         # Load the Python grammar of the current interpreter.
         project = Project(sys_path=sys_path)
         self._evaluator = Evaluator(project, environment)