diff --git a/gramps/gen/recentfiles.py b/gramps/gen/recentfiles.py
index f3c790cee..4920e74f9 100644
--- a/gramps/gen/recentfiles.py
+++ b/gramps/gen/recentfiles.py
@@ -184,23 +184,27 @@ class RecentFiles(object):
         """
         Saves the current GRAMPS RecentFiles collection to the associated file.
         """
-        with io.open(os.path.expanduser(GRAMPS_FILENAME), 'w', encoding='utf8') as xml_file:
-            if use_lock:
-                fcntl.lockf(xml_file,fcntl.LOCK_EX)
-            xml_file.write("<?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"utf-8\"?>\n")
-            xml_file.write('<RecentFiles>\n')
-            index = 0
-            for item in self.gramps_recent_files:
-                index += 1
-                if index > MAX_GRAMPS_ITEMS:
-                    break
-                xml_file.write('  <RecentItem>\n')
-                xml_file.write('    <Path><![CDATA[%s]]></Path>\n' % item.get_path())
-                xml_file.write('    <Name><![CDATA[%s]]></Name>\n' % item.get_name())
-                xml_file.write('    <Timestamp>%d</Timestamp>\n' % item.get_time())
-                xml_file.write('  </RecentItem>\n')
-            xml_file.write('</RecentFiles>\n')
-            # all advisory locks on a file are released on close
+        if sys.version_info[0] < 3:
+            xml_file = open(os.path.expanduser(GRAMPS_FILENAME), 'w')
+        else:
+            xml_file = open(os.path.expanduser(GRAMPS_FILENAME), 'w', encoding='utf8')
+        if use_lock:
+            fcntl.lockf(xml_file,fcntl.LOCK_EX)
+        xml_file.write("<?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"utf-8\"?>\n")
+        xml_file.write('<RecentFiles>\n')
+        index = 0
+        for item in self.gramps_recent_files:
+            index += 1
+            if index > MAX_GRAMPS_ITEMS:
+                break
+            xml_file.write('  <RecentItem>\n')
+            xml_file.write('    <Path><![CDATA[%s]]></Path>\n' % item.get_path())
+            xml_file.write('    <Name><![CDATA[%s]]></Name>\n' % item.get_name())
+            xml_file.write('    <Timestamp>%d</Timestamp>\n' % item.get_time())
+            xml_file.write('  </RecentItem>\n')
+        xml_file.write('</RecentFiles>\n')
+        xml_file.close()
+        # all advisory locks on a file are released on close
 
 #-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 #
@@ -222,7 +226,7 @@ class RecentParser(object):
         try:
             # Python3's expat wants bytes, Python2's wants a string.
             fmode = "r" if sys.version_info[0] < 3 else "rb"
-            with io.open(fname, fmode) as xml_file:
+            with open(fname, fmode) as xml_file:
                 if use_lock:
                     fcntl.lockf(xml_file,fcntl.LOCK_SH)