diff --git a/buildozer/targets/android.py b/buildozer/targets/android.py
index d8fcd83..1dfa2b9 100644
--- a/buildozer/targets/android.py
+++ b/buildozer/targets/android.py
@@ -819,10 +819,9 @@ class TargetAndroid(Target):
 
         # recreate the project.properties
         with io.open(project_fn, 'w', encoding='utf-8') as fd:
-            fd.writelines(content)
+            fd.writelines((line.encode('utf-8') for line in content))
             for index, ref in enumerate(references):
-                fd.write(u'android.library.reference.{}={}\n'.format(index + 1,
-                                                                     ref))
+                fd.write(u'android.library.reference.{}={}\n'.format(index + 1, ref))
 
         self.buildozer.debug('project.properties updated')