diff --git a/cinderclient/shell.py b/cinderclient/shell.py
index 9e9cfb1f1..f0825d5f2 100644
--- a/cinderclient/shell.py
+++ b/cinderclient/shell.py
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@ from keystoneauth1.identity import v2 as v2_auth
 from keystoneauth1.identity import v3 as v3_auth
 from keystoneauth1 import loading
 from keystoneauth1 import session
-from oslo_utils import encodeutils
 from oslo_utils import importutils
 import requests
 from urllib import parse as urlparse
@@ -1015,11 +1014,7 @@ class OpenStackHelpFormatter(argparse.HelpFormatter):
 
 def main():
     try:
-        if sys.version_info >= (3, 0):
-            OpenStackCinderShell().main(sys.argv[1:])
-        else:
-            OpenStackCinderShell().main([encodeutils.safe_decode(item)
-                                        for item in sys.argv[1:]])
+        OpenStackCinderShell().main(sys.argv[1:])
     except KeyboardInterrupt:
         print("... terminating cinder client", file=sys.stderr)
         sys.exit(130)
diff --git a/cinderclient/utils.py b/cinderclient/utils.py
index 8919fc616..99acc03ef 100644
--- a/cinderclient/utils.py
+++ b/cinderclient/utils.py
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@
 
 import collections
 import os
-import sys
 from urllib import parse
 import uuid
 
@@ -23,7 +22,6 @@ import prettytable
 import stevedore
 
 from cinderclient import exceptions
-from oslo_utils import encodeutils
 
 
 def arg(*args, **kwargs):
@@ -109,10 +107,7 @@ def isunauthenticated(f):
 
 
 def _print(pt, order):
-    if sys.version_info >= (3, 0):
-        print(pt.get_string(sortby=order))
-    else:
-        print(encodeutils.safe_encode(pt.get_string(sortby=order)))
+    print(pt.get_string(sortby=order))
 
 
 def print_list(objs, fields, exclude_unavailable=False, formatters=None,
@@ -258,9 +253,6 @@ def find_resource(manager, name_or_id, **kwargs):
         except (ValueError, exceptions.NotFound):
             pass
 
-    if sys.version_info <= (3, 0):
-        name_or_id = encodeutils.safe_decode(name_or_id)
-
     try:
         try:
             resource = getattr(manager, 'resource_class', None)