diff --git a/tests/path.py b/tests/path.py
index dccdac3ab..28a8c22af 100644
--- a/tests/path.py
+++ b/tests/path.py
@@ -21,12 +21,9 @@ class path(str):
     Represents a path which behaves like a string.
     """
     if sys.version_info < (3, 0):
-        def __new__(cls, s, encoding=FILESYSTEMENCODING, errors=None):
+        def __new__(cls, s, encoding=FILESYSTEMENCODING, errors='strict'):
             if isinstance(s, unicode):
-                if errors is None:
-                    s = s.encode(encoding)
-                else:
-                    s = s.encode(encoding, errors=errors)
+                s = s.encode(encoding, errors=errors)
                 return str.__new__(cls, s)
             return str.__new__(cls, s)