diff --git a/bat2nodes.py b/bat2nodes.py
index ab4d5fd..917136a 100755
--- a/bat2nodes.py
+++ b/bat2nodes.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ from d3mapbuilder import D3MapBuilder
 
 # Force encoding to UTF-8
 import locale                                  # Ensures that subsequent open()s
-locale.getpreferredencoding = lambda: 'UTF-8'  # are UTF-8 encoded.
+locale.getpreferredencoding = lambda _=None: 'UTF-8'  # are UTF-8 encoded.
 
 import sys
 #sys.stdin = open('/dev/stdin', 'r')