1 files changed, 8 insertions, 5 deletions
diff --git a/youtube_dl/utils.py b/youtube_dl/utils.py
index 92fee966f..f53db0228 100644
--- a/youtube_dl/utils.py
+++ b/youtube_dl/utils.py
@@ -910,22 +910,25 @@ def platform_name():
     return res
 
 
-def write_string(s, out=None):
+def write_string(s, out=None, encoding=None):
     if out is None:
         out = sys.stderr
     assert type(s) == compat_str
 
     if ('b' in getattr(out, 'mode', '') or
             sys.version_info[0] < 3):  # Python 2 lies about mode of sys.stderr
-        s = s.encode(preferredencoding(), 'ignore')
+        s = s.encode(encoding or preferredencoding(), 'ignore')
     try:
         out.write(s)
     except UnicodeEncodeError:
         # In Windows shells, this can fail even when the codec is just charmap!?
         # See https://wiki.python.org/moin/PrintFails#Issue
-        if sys.platform == 'win32' and hasattr(out, 'encoding'):
-            s = s.encode(out.encoding, 'ignore').decode(out.encoding)
-            out.write(s)
+        if sys.platform == 'win32':
+            if not encoding and hasattr(out, 'encoding'):
+                encoding = out.encoding
+            if encoding:
+                b = s.encode(encoding, 'ignore').decode(encoding)
+                out.write(b)
         else:
             raise