diff --git a/Lib/idlelib/PyShell.py b/Lib/idlelib/PyShell.py
index 21cdbc5..6ec6251 100644
--- a/Lib/idlelib/PyShell.py
+++ b/Lib/idlelib/PyShell.py
@@ -1365,11 +1365,8 @@
             if not dir in sys.path:
                 sys.path.insert(0, dir)
     else:
-        dir = str(os.getcwd()) ### os.getcwd() returning str8 but sys.path
-                               ### items are type 'str'. Remove the cast
-                               ### when fixed and assertion fails
-        assert isinstance(os.getcwd(), str8)  ###
-        if not dir in sys.path:
+        dir = os.getcwd()
+        if dir not in sys.path:
             sys.path.insert(0, dir)
     # check the IDLE settings configuration (but command line overrides)
     edit_start = idleConf.GetOption('main', 'General',