diff --git a/tests/regressiontests/admin_views/models.py b/tests/regressiontests/admin_views/models.py
index 6e73b2ec1c..a761cdd078 100644
--- a/tests/regressiontests/admin_views/models.py
+++ b/tests/regressiontests/admin_views/models.py
@@ -60,7 +60,8 @@ class Chapter(models.Model):
         return self.title
 
     class Meta:
-        verbose_name = u'¿Chapter?'
+        # Use a utf-8 bytestring to ensure it works (see #11710)
+        verbose_name = '¿Chapter?'
 
 class ChapterXtra1(models.Model):
     chap = models.OneToOneField(Chapter, verbose_name=u'¿Chap?')