diff --git a/src/_pytest/_code/source.py b/src/_pytest/_code/source.py
index 3b037b7d47d..507683f1312 100644
--- a/src/_pytest/_code/source.py
+++ b/src/_pytest/_code/source.py
@@ -337,7 +337,10 @@ def get_statement_startend2(lineno, node):
 
 def getstatementrange_ast(lineno, source, assertion=False, astnode=None):
     if astnode is None:
-        content = str(source)
+        if six.PY2:
+            content = unicode(source)
+        else:
+            content = str(source)
         astnode = compile(content, "source", "exec", 1024)  # 1024 for AST
 
     start, end = get_statement_startend2(lineno, astnode)