diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/packaging/os/apt.py b/lib/ansible/modules/packaging/os/apt.py
index 244654a36b3..7452dd6e784 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/packaging/os/apt.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/packaging/os/apt.py
@@ -857,7 +857,7 @@ def get_cache(module):
             # try again
             cache = apt.Cache()
         else:
-            module.fail_json(msg=str(e))
+            module.fail_json(msg=to_native(e))
     return cache