diff --git a/deluge/common.py b/deluge/common.py
index 97d2ba441..5d9e34dcf 100644
--- a/deluge/common.py
+++ b/deluge/common.py
@@ -942,13 +942,13 @@ def decode_bytes(byte_str, encoding='utf8'):
 @deprecated
 def decode_string(byte_str, encoding='utf8'):
     """Deprecated: Use decode_bytes"""
-    decode_bytes(byte_str, encoding)
+    return decode_bytes(byte_str, encoding)
 
 
 @deprecated
 def utf8_encoded(str_, encoding='utf8'):
     """Deprecated: Use encode or decode_bytes if needed"""
-    decode_bytes(str_, encoding).encode('utf8')
+    return decode_bytes(str_, encoding).encode('utf8')
 
 
 def utf8_encode_structure(data):