diff --git a/rq/compat/__init__.py b/rq/compat/__init__.py
index 5e660b5..3095983 100644
--- a/rq/compat/__init__.py
+++ b/rq/compat/__init__.py
@@ -69,7 +69,9 @@ else:
     string_types = (str, unicode)
 
     def as_text(v):
-        return v
+        if v is None:
+            return None
+        return v.decode('utf-8')
 
     def decode_redis_hash(h):
         return h
diff --git a/rq/job.py b/rq/job.py
index 6ba0807..e8080f8 100644
--- a/rq/job.py
+++ b/rq/job.py
@@ -407,8 +407,7 @@ class Job(object):
 
         self.created_at = to_date(as_text(obj.get('created_at')))
         self.origin = as_text(obj.get('origin'))
-        self.description = (as_text(obj.get('description')).decode('utf-8')
-                            if obj.get('description') else None)
+        self.description = as_text(obj.get('description'))
         self.enqueued_at = to_date(as_text(obj.get('enqueued_at')))
         self.ended_at = to_date(as_text(obj.get('ended_at')))
         self._result = unpickle(obj.get('result')) if obj.get('result') else None  # noqa