diff --git a/pyqtgraph/flowchart/Flowchart.py b/pyqtgraph/flowchart/Flowchart.py
index c57503f3..2149a58a 100644
--- a/pyqtgraph/flowchart/Flowchart.py
+++ b/pyqtgraph/flowchart/Flowchart.py
@@ -515,6 +515,7 @@ class Flowchart(Node):
             return
             ## NOTE: was previously using a real widget for the file dialog's parent, but this caused weird mouse event bugs..
             #fileName = QtGui.QFileDialog.getOpenFileName(None, "Load Flowchart..", startDir, "Flowchart (*.fc)")
+        fileName = asUnicode(fileName)
         state = configfile.readConfigFile(fileName)
         self.restoreState(state, clear=True)
         self.viewBox.autoRange()
@@ -537,6 +538,7 @@ class Flowchart(Node):
             #fileName = QtGui.QFileDialog.getSaveFileName(None, "Save Flowchart..", startDir, "Flowchart (*.fc)")
         if not fileName.endswith('.fc'):
             fileName += '.fc'
+        fileName = asUnicode(fileName)
         configfile.writeConfigFile(self.saveState(), fileName)
         self.sigFileSaved.emit(fileName)