diff --git a/django/core/management/commands/runserver.py b/django/core/management/commands/runserver.py
index f29204bd1d..f171456f97 100644
--- a/django/core/management/commands/runserver.py
+++ b/django/core/management/commands/runserver.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ from django.core.servers.basehttp import run, get_internal_wsgi_application
 from django.db import connections, DEFAULT_DB_ALIAS
 from django.db.migrations.executor import MigrationExecutor
 from django.utils import autoreload
-from django.utils.encoding import get_system_encoding, smart_text
+from django.utils.encoding import force_text, get_system_encoding
 from django.utils import six
 from django.core.exceptions import ImproperlyConfigured
 
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
             try:
                 error_text = ERRORS[e.errno]
             except KeyError:
-                error_text = smart_text(e)
+                error_text = force_text(e)
             self.stderr.write("Error: %s" % error_text)
             # Need to use an OS exit because sys.exit doesn't work in a thread
             os._exit(1)