diff --git a/pkgs/development/python-modules/publicsuffix/default.nix b/pkgs/development/python-modules/publicsuffix/default.nix
index 027b017c23ec..cb8c037fc763 100644
--- a/pkgs/development/python-modules/publicsuffix/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/development/python-modules/publicsuffix/default.nix
@@ -10,11 +10,8 @@ buildPythonPackage rec {
   };
 
 
-  # fix the ASCII-mode LICENSE file read
   # disable test_fetch and the doctests (which also invoke fetch)
-  patchPhase = stdenv.lib.optionalString isPy3k ''
-    sed -i "s/)\.read(/,encoding='utf-8'\0/" setup.py
-  '' + ''
+  patchPhase = ''
     sed -i -e "/def test_fetch/i\\
     \\t@unittest.skip('requires internet')" -e "/def additional_tests():/,+1d" tests.py
   '';