diff --git a/oml/item/scan.py b/oml/item/scan.py
index 8161203..aa96bdc 100644
--- a/oml/item/scan.py
+++ b/oml/item/scan.py
@@ -42,7 +42,6 @@ def remove_missing(books=None):
                 if state.shutdown:
                     return
                 path = f.fullpath()
-                path = unicode
                 path = unicodedata.normalize('NFD', path)
                 db_paths.append(path)
                 if f.item: