diff --git a/web/app.py b/web/app.py
index 73f00b3..fc4eb1c 100644
--- a/web/app.py
+++ b/web/app.py
@@ -50,8 +50,9 @@ def create_app() -> flask.Flask:
         emoji = None
         if subpath == 'terms':
             emoji = json.load(open('data/tos.json', encoding='utf8')).get(flask.request.args.get('verify'))
+            if emoji:
+                emoji = emoji.encode('utf8')
 
-        emoji = emoji.encode('utf8')
         return flask.render_template(f'legal/{subpath}.html', verify=emoji)
 
     @app.route('/api/tos-verification', methods=['POST'])