diff --git a/buildozer/targets/android.py b/buildozer/targets/android.py
index 9914000..b36b3d7 100644
--- a/buildozer/targets/android.py
+++ b/buildozer/targets/android.py
@@ -850,10 +850,11 @@ class TargetAndroid(Target):
 
         # recreate the project.properties
         with io.open(project_fn, 'w', encoding='utf-8') as fd:
-            try:
-                fd.writelines((line.encode('utf-8') for line in content))
-            except:
-                fd.writelines(content)
+            lines = [
+                line if isinstance(line, unicode) else line.decode('utf-8')
+                for line in content
+            ]
+            fd.writelines(lines)
             if not content[-1].endswith(u'\n'):
                 fd.write(u'\n')
             for index, ref in enumerate(references):