diff --git a/django/core/files/base.py b/django/core/files/base.py
index 641ff924c6b..ce0e0d4b9fe 100644
--- a/django/core/files/base.py
+++ b/django/core/files/base.py
@@ -3,10 +3,11 @@ from __future__ import unicode_literals
 import os
 from io import BytesIO, StringIO, UnsupportedOperation
 
-from django.utils.encoding import smart_text
 from django.core.files.utils import FileProxyMixin
 from django.utils import six
-from django.utils.encoding import force_bytes, python_2_unicode_compatible
+from django.utils.encoding import (
+    force_bytes, force_str, python_2_unicode_compatible, smart_text,
+)
 
 
 @python_2_unicode_compatible
@@ -25,7 +26,7 @@ class File(FileProxyMixin):
         return smart_text(self.name or '')
 
     def __repr__(self):
-        return "<%s: %s>" % (self.__class__.__name__, self or "None")
+        return force_str("<%s: %s>" % (self.__class__.__name__, self or "None"))
 
     def __bool__(self):
         return bool(self.name)
diff --git a/docs/releases/1.7.2.txt b/docs/releases/1.7.2.txt
index c9f69fe8568..62419be63ee 100644
--- a/docs/releases/1.7.2.txt
+++ b/docs/releases/1.7.2.txt
@@ -77,3 +77,6 @@ Bugfixes
 
 * Fixed a crash in migrations when deleting a field that is part of a
   ``index/unique_together`` constraint (:ticket:`23794`).
+
+* Fixed ``django.core.files.File.__repr__()`` when the file's ``name`` contains
+  Unicode characters (:ticket:`23888`).
diff --git a/tests/files/tests.py b/tests/files/tests.py
index b9f8b5228ad..629659a01d0 100644
--- a/tests/files/tests.py
+++ b/tests/files/tests.py
@@ -26,13 +26,12 @@ except ImproperlyConfigured:
 
 class FileTests(unittest.TestCase):
     def test_unicode_uploadedfile_name(self):
-        """
-        Regression test for #8156: files with unicode names I can't quite figure
-        out the encoding situation between doctest and this file, but the actual
-        repr doesn't matter; it just shouldn't return a unicode object.
-        """
         uf = UploadedFile(name='¿Cómo?', content_type='text')
-        self.assertEqual(type(uf.__repr__()), str)
+        self.assertIs(type(repr(uf)), str)
+
+    def test_unicode_file_name(self):
+        f = File(None, 'djángö')
+        self.assertIs(type(repr(f)), str)
 
     def test_context_manager(self):
         orig_file = tempfile.TemporaryFile()