diff --git a/Lib/test/test_multiprocessing.py b/Lib/test/test_multiprocessing.py
index a887bca81ba..22a759c093c 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_multiprocessing.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_multiprocessing.py
@@ -32,11 +32,7 @@ from multiprocessing import util
 #
 #
 
-if sys.version_info >= (3, 0):
-    def latin(s):
-        return s.encode('latin')
-else:
-    latin = str
+latin = str
 
 #
 # Constants