diff --git a/windows/mpconfigport.h b/windows/mpconfigport.h
index 9725c3dfe5..9e666e3f32 100644
--- a/windows/mpconfigport.h
+++ b/windows/mpconfigport.h
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@
 #define MICROPY_LONGINT_IMPL        (MICROPY_LONGINT_IMPL_MPZ)
 #define MICROPY_STREAMS_NON_BLOCK   (1)
 #define MICROPY_OPT_COMPUTED_GOTO   (0)
-#define MICROPY_PY_BUILTINS_STR_UNICODE (0)
+#define MICROPY_PY_BUILTINS_STR_UNICODE (1)
 #define MICROPY_PY_BUILTINS_FROZENSET (1)
 #define MICROPY_PY_SYS_EXIT         (1)
 #define MICROPY_PY_SYS_PLATFORM     "win32"