diff --git a/deluge/common.py b/deluge/common.py
index ca6ccda17..35cab102d 100644
--- a/deluge/common.py
+++ b/deluge/common.py
@@ -207,15 +207,27 @@ def get_pixmap(fname):
 
 
 def resource_filename(module, path):
-    # While developing, if there's a second deluge package, installed globally
-    # and another in develop mode somewhere else, while pkg_resources.require('Deluge')
-    # returns the proper deluge instance, pkg_resources.resource_filename does
-    # not, it returns the first found on the python path, which is not good
-    # enough.
-    # This is a work-around that.
-    return pkg_resources.require('Deluge>=%s' % get_version())[0].get_resource_filename(
-        pkg_resources._manager, os.path.join(*(module.split('.') + [path]))
-    )
+    """A workaround for pkg_resources.resource_filename finding wrong package when developing
+
+    When developing and there is a second deluge package (installed globally) and
+    another in develop mode elsewhere. While pkg_resources.require('Deluge')
+    returns the proper deluge instance, resource_filename does not, it returns
+    the first found on the python path, which is not what is wanted.
+
+    Also ensures the filename path is decoded from bytes.
+
+    Args:
+        module (str): The module name in dotted notation.
+        path (str): The relative path to resource.
+
+    Returns:
+        str: The absolute resource path.
+
+    """
+    filename = pkg_resources.require('Deluge>=%s' % get_version())[0].get_resource_filename(
+        pkg_resources._manager, os.path.join(*(module.split('.') + [path])))
+
+    return decode_bytes(filename)
 
 
 def open_file(path, timestamp=None):
diff --git a/deluge/plugins/AutoAdd/deluge/plugins/autoadd/common.py b/deluge/plugins/AutoAdd/deluge/plugins/autoadd/common.py
index 3e01f2f4c..43d2c34f2 100644
--- a/deluge/plugins/AutoAdd/deluge/plugins/autoadd/common.py
+++ b/deluge/plugins/AutoAdd/deluge/plugins/autoadd/common.py
@@ -14,10 +14,10 @@
 
 from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
-import os
+from os.path import join
 
-import pkg_resources
+from deluge.common import resource_filename
 
 
 def get_resource(filename):
-    return pkg_resources.resource_filename('deluge.plugins.autoadd', os.path.join('data', filename))
+    return resource_filename('deluge.plugins.autoadd', join('data', filename))
diff --git a/deluge/plugins/Blocklist/deluge/plugins/blocklist/common.py b/deluge/plugins/Blocklist/deluge/plugins/blocklist/common.py
index 5e0a4989f..80fd67acc 100644
--- a/deluge/plugins/Blocklist/deluge/plugins/blocklist/common.py
+++ b/deluge/plugins/Blocklist/deluge/plugins/blocklist/common.py
@@ -9,16 +9,15 @@
 
 from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
-import os.path
 from functools import wraps
+from os.path import join
 from sys import exc_info
 
-import pkg_resources
+from deluge.common import resource_filename
 
 
 def get_resource(filename):
-    return pkg_resources.resource_filename('deluge.plugins.blocklist',
-                                           os.path.join('data', filename))
+    return resource_filename('deluge.plugins.blocklist', join('data', filename))
 
 
 def raises_errors_as(error):
diff --git a/deluge/plugins/Execute/deluge/plugins/execute/common.py b/deluge/plugins/Execute/deluge/plugins/execute/common.py
index 489f31291..5adde6ef1 100644
--- a/deluge/plugins/Execute/deluge/plugins/execute/common.py
+++ b/deluge/plugins/Execute/deluge/plugins/execute/common.py
@@ -9,11 +9,10 @@
 
 from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
-import os.path
+from os.path import join
 
-import pkg_resources
+from deluge.common import resource_filename
 
 
 def get_resource(filename):
-    return pkg_resources.resource_filename('deluge.plugins.execute',
-                                           os.path.join('data', filename))
+    return resource_filename('deluge.plugins.execute', join('data', filename))
diff --git a/deluge/plugins/Extractor/deluge/plugins/extractor/common.py b/deluge/plugins/Extractor/deluge/plugins/extractor/common.py
index 279893305..8353896d2 100644
--- a/deluge/plugins/Extractor/deluge/plugins/extractor/common.py
+++ b/deluge/plugins/Extractor/deluge/plugins/extractor/common.py
@@ -9,11 +9,10 @@
 
 from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
-import os
+from os.path import join
 
-import pkg_resources
+from deluge.common import resource_filename
 
 
 def get_resource(filename):
-    return pkg_resources.resource_filename('deluge.plugins.extractor',
-                                           os.path.join('data', filename))
+    return resource_filename('deluge.plugins.extractor', join('data', filename))
diff --git a/deluge/plugins/Label/deluge/plugins/label/common.py b/deluge/plugins/Label/deluge/plugins/label/common.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1507b8bad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/deluge/plugins/Label/deluge/plugins/label/common.py
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+#
+# Copyright (C) 2009 Andrew Resch <andrewresch@gmail.com>
+#
+# This file is part of Deluge and is licensed under GNU General Public License 3.0, or later, with
+# the additional special exception to link portions of this program with the OpenSSL library.
+# See LICENSE for more details.
+#
+
+from __future__ import unicode_literals
+
+from os.path import join
+
+from deluge.common import resource_filename
+
+
+def get_resource(filename):
+    return resource_filename('deluge.plugins.label', join('data', filename))
diff --git a/deluge/plugins/Label/deluge/plugins/label/gtkui/label_config.py b/deluge/plugins/Label/deluge/plugins/label/gtkui/label_config.py
index e93ac07a0..78c04d4f7 100644
--- a/deluge/plugins/Label/deluge/plugins/label/gtkui/label_config.py
+++ b/deluge/plugins/Label/deluge/plugins/label/gtkui/label_config.py
@@ -10,13 +10,13 @@
 from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
 import logging
-import os
 
-import pkg_resources  # access plugin egg
 from gtk import Builder
 
 from deluge.ui.client import client
 
+from .common import get_resource
+
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ class LabelConfig(object):
     def load(self):
         log.debug('Adding Label Preferences page')
         builder = Builder()
-        builder.add_from_file(self.get_resource('label_pref.ui'))
+        builder.add_from_file(get_resource('label_pref.ui'))
 
         self.plugin.add_preferences_page(_('Label'), builder.get_object('label_prefs_box'))
         self.plugin.register_hook('on_show_prefs', self.load_settings)
@@ -44,11 +44,6 @@ class LabelConfig(object):
         self.plugin.deregister_hook('on_apply_prefs', self.on_apply_prefs)
         self.plugin.deregister_hook('on_show_prefs', self.load_settings)
 
-    def get_resource(self, filename):
-        return pkg_resources.resource_filename(
-            'deluge.plugins.label', os.path.join('data', filename)
-        )
-
     def load_settings(self, widget=None, data=None):
         client.label.get_config().addCallback(self.cb_global_options)
 
diff --git a/deluge/plugins/Label/deluge/plugins/label/gtkui/sidebar_menu.py b/deluge/plugins/Label/deluge/plugins/label/gtkui/sidebar_menu.py
index e3cf8bd70..30d33aa52 100644
--- a/deluge/plugins/Label/deluge/plugins/label/gtkui/sidebar_menu.py
+++ b/deluge/plugins/Label/deluge/plugins/label/gtkui/sidebar_menu.py
@@ -17,20 +17,13 @@ import gtk
 import deluge.component as component
 from deluge.ui.client import client
 
+from .common import get_resource
+
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 NO_LABEL = 'No Label'
 
 
-# helpers:
-def get_resource(filename):
-    import pkg_resources
-    import os
-    return pkg_resources.resource_filename(
-        'deluge.plugins.label', os.path.join('data', filename)
-    )
-
-
 # menu
 class LabelSidebarMenu(object):
     def __init__(self):
diff --git a/deluge/plugins/Label/deluge/plugins/label/webui.py b/deluge/plugins/Label/deluge/plugins/label/webui.py
index dec9ab428..58c38e941 100644
--- a/deluge/plugins/Label/deluge/plugins/label/webui.py
+++ b/deluge/plugins/Label/deluge/plugins/label/webui.py
@@ -14,21 +14,14 @@
 from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
 import logging
-import os
-
-import pkg_resources
 
 from deluge.plugins.pluginbase import WebPluginBase
 
+from .common import get_resource
+
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
-def get_resource(filename):
-    return pkg_resources.resource_filename('deluge.plugins.label',
-                                           os.path.join('data', filename))
-
-
 class WebUI(WebPluginBase):
-
     scripts = [get_resource('label.js')]
     debug_scripts = scripts
diff --git a/deluge/plugins/Notifications/deluge/plugins/notifications/common.py b/deluge/plugins/Notifications/deluge/plugins/notifications/common.py
index 9e2c19235..64e3be290 100644
--- a/deluge/plugins/Notifications/deluge/plugins/notifications/common.py
+++ b/deluge/plugins/Notifications/deluge/plugins/notifications/common.py
@@ -15,19 +15,19 @@
 from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
 import logging
+from os.path import join
 
 from twisted.internet import defer
 
 from deluge import component
+from deluge.common import resource_filename
 from deluge.event import known_events
 
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
 def get_resource(filename):
-    import os
-    import pkg_resources
-    return pkg_resources.resource_filename('deluge.plugins.notifications', os.path.join('data', filename))
+    return resource_filename('deluge.plugins.notifications', join('data', filename))
 
 
 class CustomNotifications(object):
diff --git a/deluge/plugins/Scheduler/deluge/plugins/scheduler/common.py b/deluge/plugins/Scheduler/deluge/plugins/scheduler/common.py
index decf23a99..f0d9200a1 100644
--- a/deluge/plugins/Scheduler/deluge/plugins/scheduler/common.py
+++ b/deluge/plugins/Scheduler/deluge/plugins/scheduler/common.py
@@ -11,11 +11,12 @@
 # See LICENSE for more details.
 #
 
-
 from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
+from os.path import join
+
+from deluge.common import resource_filename
+
 
 def get_resource(filename):
-    import os
-    import pkg_resources
-    return pkg_resources.resource_filename('deluge.plugins.scheduler', os.path.join('data', filename))
+    return resource_filename('deluge.plugins.scheduler', join('data', filename))
diff --git a/deluge/plugins/Stats/deluge/plugins/stats/common.py b/deluge/plugins/Stats/deluge/plugins/stats/common.py
index 33c1348fb..112731363 100644
--- a/deluge/plugins/Stats/deluge/plugins/stats/common.py
+++ b/deluge/plugins/Stats/deluge/plugins/stats/common.py
@@ -9,10 +9,10 @@
 
 from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
-import os.path
+from os.path import join
 
-import pkg_resources
+from deluge.common import resource_filename
 
 
 def get_resource(filename):
-    return pkg_resources.resource_filename('deluge.plugins.stats', os.path.join('data', filename))
+    return resource_filename('deluge.plugins.stats', join('data', filename))
diff --git a/deluge/plugins/Toggle/deluge/plugins/toggle/common.py b/deluge/plugins/Toggle/deluge/plugins/toggle/common.py
index c3e66edbf..a59472b36 100644
--- a/deluge/plugins/Toggle/deluge/plugins/toggle/common.py
+++ b/deluge/plugins/Toggle/deluge/plugins/toggle/common.py
@@ -12,12 +12,12 @@
 # See LICENSE for more details.
 #
 
-
 from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
+from os.path import join
+
+from deluge.common import resource_filename
+
 
 def get_resource(filename):
-    import os.path
-    import pkg_resources
-    return pkg_resources.resource_filename('deluge.plugins.toggle',
-                                           os.path.join('data', filename))
+    return resource_filename('deluge.plugins.toggle', join('data', filename))
diff --git a/deluge/plugins/WebUi/deluge/plugins/webui/common.py b/deluge/plugins/WebUi/deluge/plugins/webui/common.py
index 97cbe651e..f6a408559 100644
--- a/deluge/plugins/WebUi/deluge/plugins/webui/common.py
+++ b/deluge/plugins/WebUi/deluge/plugins/webui/common.py
@@ -11,12 +11,12 @@
 # See LICENSE for more details.
 #
 
-
 from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
+from os.path import join
+
+from deluge.common import resource_filename
+
 
 def get_resource(filename):
-    import os.path
-    import pkg_resources
-    return pkg_resources.resource_filename('deluge.plugins.webui',
-                                           os.path.join('data', filename))
+    return resource_filename('deluge.plugins.webui', join('data', filename))
diff --git a/deluge/scripts/create_plugin.py b/deluge/scripts/create_plugin.py
index ed49c3dff..5ef6c2a8b 100644
--- a/deluge/scripts/create_plugin.py
+++ b/deluge/scripts/create_plugin.py
@@ -208,11 +208,14 @@ setup(
 
 COMMON = """
 
+from __future__ import unicode_literals
+
+from os.path import join
+
+from deluge.common import resource_filename
+
 def get_resource(filename):
-    import pkg_resources
-    import os
-    return pkg_resources.resource_filename('deluge.plugins.%(safe_name)s',
-                                           os.path.join('data', filename))
+    return resource_filename('deluge.plugins.%(safe_name)s', join('data', filename))
 """
 
 GTKUI = """
@@ -223,7 +226,7 @@ from deluge.ui.client import client
 from deluge.plugins.pluginbase import GtkPluginBase
 import deluge.component as component
 
-from common import get_resource
+from .common import get_resource
 
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -290,7 +293,7 @@ import logging
 from deluge.ui.client import client
 from deluge.plugins.pluginbase import WebPluginBase
 
-from common import get_resource
+from .common import get_resource
 
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)