diff --git a/plugins/modules/ipavault.py b/plugins/modules/ipavault.py
index 8060976c2e1531583ebce5750699f9e103fcba78..78ca8a54a23f114e2e19925e8394ff725defed13 100644
--- a/plugins/modules/ipavault.py
+++ b/plugins/modules/ipavault.py
@@ -756,7 +756,7 @@ def main():
                     res_vault_type = res_find.get('ipavaulttype')[0]
                     args['ipavaulttype'] = vault_type = res_vault_type
                 else:
-                    args['ipavaulttype'] = vault_type = "symmetric"
+                    args['ipavaulttype'] = vault_type = u"symmetric"
 
             # Create command
             if state == "present":