diff --git a/beets/importer.py b/beets/importer.py
index 14456572c..61e490400 100644
--- a/beets/importer.py
+++ b/beets/importer.py
@@ -258,12 +258,13 @@ class ImportSession(object):
         if not iconfig['copy']:
             iconfig['delete'] = False
 
-    def tag_log(self, status, path):
+    def tag_log(self, status, paths):
         """Log a message about a given album to logfile. The status should
         reflect the reason the album couldn't be tagged.
         """
         if self.logfile:
-            print('{0} {1}'.format(status, path), file=self.logfile)
+            print(u'{0} {1}'.format(status, displayable_path(paths)),
+                  file=self.logfile)
             self.logfile.flush()
 
     def log_choice(self, task, duplicate=False):
@@ -275,17 +276,17 @@ class ImportSession(object):
         if duplicate:
             # Duplicate: log all three choices (skip, keep both, and trump).
             if task.remove_duplicates:
-                self.tag_log('duplicate-replace', displayable_path(paths))
+                self.tag_log('duplicate-replace', paths)
             elif task.choice_flag in (action.ASIS, action.APPLY):
-                self.tag_log('duplicate-keep', displayable_path(paths))
+                self.tag_log('duplicate-keep', paths)
             elif task.choice_flag is (action.SKIP):
-                self.tag_log('duplicate-skip', displayable_path(paths))
+                self.tag_log('duplicate-skip', paths)
         else:
             # Non-duplicate: log "skip" and "asis" choices.
             if task.choice_flag is action.ASIS:
-                self.tag_log('asis', displayable_path(paths))
+                self.tag_log('asis', paths)
             elif task.choice_flag is action.SKIP:
-                self.tag_log('skip', displayable_path(paths))
+                self.tag_log('skip', paths)
 
     def should_resume(self, path):
         raise NotImplementedError
diff --git a/beets/ui/commands.py b/beets/ui/commands.py
index fce9db8e1..e55c09f8c 100644
--- a/beets/ui/commands.py
+++ b/beets/ui/commands.py
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import os
 import time
 import itertools
 import re
+import codecs
 
 import beets
 from beets import ui
@@ -654,11 +655,11 @@ def import_files(lib, paths, query):
     if config['import']['log'].get() is not None:
         logpath = config['import']['log'].as_filename()
         try:
-            logfile = open(syspath(logpath), 'a')
+            logfile = codecs.open(syspath(logpath), 'a', 'utf8')
         except IOError:
             raise ui.UserError(u"could not open log file for writing: %s" %
                                displayable_path(logpath))
-        print('import started', time.asctime(), file=logfile)
+        print(u'import started', time.asctime(), file=logfile)
     else:
         logfile = None
 
@@ -673,7 +674,7 @@ def import_files(lib, paths, query):
     finally:
         # If we were logging, close the file.
         if logfile:
-            print('', file=logfile)
+            print(u'', file=logfile)
             logfile.close()
 
     # Emit event.