diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/files/copy.py b/lib/ansible/modules/files/copy.py
index 9ec8c659525..9066226540a 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/files/copy.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/files/copy.py
@@ -18,9 +18,6 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 # along with Ansible.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
-import os
-import tempfile
-
 DOCUMENTATION = '''
 ---
 module: copy
@@ -183,16 +180,28 @@ state:
     sample: "file"
 '''
 
+import os
+import shutil
+import tempfile
+import traceback
+
+# import module snippets
+from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule
+from ansible.module_utils.pycompat24 import get_exception
+from ansible.module_utils._text import to_bytes, to_native
+
+
 def split_pre_existing_dir(dirname):
     '''
     Return the first pre-existing directory and a list of the new directories that will be created.
     '''
 
     head, tail = os.path.split(dirname)
-    if not os.path.exists(head):
+    b_head = to_bytes(head, errors='surrogate_or_strict')
+    if not os.path.exists(b_head):
         (pre_existing_dir, new_directory_list) = split_pre_existing_dir(head)
     else:
-        return (head, [ tail ])
+        return (head, [tail])
     new_directory_list.append(tail)
     return (pre_existing_dir, new_directory_list)
 
@@ -215,10 +224,10 @@ def main():
     module = AnsibleModule(
         # not checking because of daisy chain to file module
         argument_spec = dict(
-            src               = dict(required=False),
-            original_basename = dict(required=False), # used to handle 'dest is a directory' via template, a slight hack
+            src               = dict(required=False, type='path'),
+            original_basename = dict(required=False),  # used to handle 'dest is a directory' via template, a slight hack
             content           = dict(required=False, no_log=True),
-            dest              = dict(required=True),
+            dest              = dict(required=True, type='path'),
             backup            = dict(default=False, type='bool'),
             force             = dict(default=True, aliases=['thirsty'], type='bool'),
             validate          = dict(required=False, type='str'),
@@ -229,21 +238,23 @@ def main():
         supports_check_mode=True,
     )
 
-    src    = os.path.expanduser(module.params['src'])
-    dest   = os.path.expanduser(module.params['dest'])
+    src = module.params['src']
+    b_src = to_bytes(src, errors='surrogate_or_strict')
+    dest = module.params['dest']
+    b_dest = to_bytes(dest, errors='surrogate_or_strict')
     backup = module.params['backup']
-    force  = module.params['force']
-    original_basename = module.params.get('original_basename',None)
-    validate = module.params.get('validate',None)
+    force = module.params['force']
+    original_basename = module.params.get('original_basename', None)
+    validate = module.params.get('validate', None)
     follow = module.params['follow']
-    mode   = module.params['mode']
+    mode = module.params['mode']
     remote_src = module.params['remote_src']
 
-    if not os.path.exists(src):
+    if not os.path.exists(b_src):
         module.fail_json(msg="Source %s not found" % (src))
-    if not os.access(src, os.R_OK):
+    if not os.access(b_src, os.R_OK):
         module.fail_json(msg="Source %s not readable" % (src))
-    if os.path.isdir(src):
+    if os.path.isdir(b_src):
         module.fail_json(msg="Remote copy does not support recursive copy of directory: %s" % (src))
 
     checksum_src = module.sha1(src)
@@ -259,10 +270,12 @@ def main():
     # Special handling for recursive copy - create intermediate dirs
     if original_basename and dest.endswith(os.sep):
         dest = os.path.join(dest, original_basename)
+        b_dest = to_bytes(dest, errors='surrogate_or_strict')
         dirname = os.path.dirname(dest)
-        if not os.path.exists(dirname) and os.path.isabs(dirname):
+        b_dirname = to_bytes(dirname, errors='surrogate_or_strict')
+        if not os.path.exists(b_dirname) and os.path.isabs(b_dirname):
             (pre_existing_dir, new_directory_list) = split_pre_existing_dir(dirname)
-            os.makedirs(dirname)
+            os.makedirs(b_dirname)
             directory_args = module.load_file_common_arguments(module.params)
             directory_mode = module.params["directory_mode"]
             if directory_mode is not None:
@@ -271,45 +284,47 @@ def main():
                 directory_args['mode'] = None
             adjust_recursive_directory_permissions(pre_existing_dir, new_directory_list, module, directory_args, changed)
 
-    if os.path.exists(dest):
-        if os.path.islink(dest) and follow:
-            dest = os.path.realpath(dest)
+    if os.path.exists(b_dest):
+        if os.path.islink(b_dest) and follow:
+            b_dest = os.path.realpath(b_dest)
+            dest = to_native(b_dest, errors='surrogate_or_strict')
         if not force:
             module.exit_json(msg="file already exists", src=src, dest=dest, changed=False)
-        if (os.path.isdir(dest)):
+        if os.path.isdir(b_dest):
             basename = os.path.basename(src)
             if original_basename:
                 basename = original_basename
             dest = os.path.join(dest, basename)
-        if os.access(dest, os.R_OK):
+            b_dest = to_bytes(dest, errors='surrogate_or_strict')
+        if os.access(b_dest, os.R_OK):
             checksum_dest = module.sha1(dest)
     else:
-        if not os.path.exists(os.path.dirname(dest)):
+        if not os.path.exists(os.path.dirname(b_dest)):
             try:
                 # os.path.exists() can return false in some
                 # circumstances where the directory does not have
                 # the execute bit for the current user set, in
                 # which case the stat() call will raise an OSError
-                os.stat(os.path.dirname(dest))
+                os.stat(os.path.dirname(b_dest))
             except OSError:
                 e = get_exception()
-                if "permission denied" in str(e).lower():
+                if "permission denied" in to_native(e).lower():
                     module.fail_json(msg="Destination directory %s is not accessible" % (os.path.dirname(dest)))
             module.fail_json(msg="Destination directory %s does not exist" % (os.path.dirname(dest)))
-    if not os.access(os.path.dirname(dest), os.W_OK):
+    if not os.access(os.path.dirname(b_dest), os.W_OK):
         module.fail_json(msg="Destination %s not writable" % (os.path.dirname(dest)))
 
     backup_file = None
-    if checksum_src != checksum_dest or os.path.islink(dest):
+    if checksum_src != checksum_dest or os.path.islink(b_dest):
         if not module.check_mode:
             try:
                 if backup:
-                    if os.path.exists(dest):
+                    if os.path.exists(b_dest):
                         backup_file = module.backup_local(dest)
                 # allow for conversion from symlink.
-                if os.path.islink(dest):
-                    os.unlink(dest)
-                    open(dest, 'w').close()
+                if os.path.islink(b_dest):
+                    os.unlink(b_dest)
+                    open(b_dest, 'w').close()
                 if validate:
                     # if we have a mode, make sure we set it on the temporary
                     # file source as some validations may require it
@@ -318,14 +333,14 @@ def main():
                         module.set_mode_if_different(src, mode, False)
                     if "%s" not in validate:
                         module.fail_json(msg="validate must contain %%s: %s" % (validate))
-                    (rc,out,err) = module.run_command(validate % src)
+                    (rc, out, err) = module.run_command(validate % src)
                     if rc != 0:
                         module.fail_json(msg="failed to validate", exit_status=rc, stdout=out, stderr=err)
-                mysrc = src
+                b_mysrc = b_src
                 if remote_src:
-                    _, mysrc = tempfile.mkstemp(dir=os.path.dirname(dest))
-                    shutil.copy2(src, mysrc)
-                module.atomic_move(mysrc, dest, unsafe_writes=module.params['unsafe_writes'])
+                    _, b_mysrc = tempfile.mkstemp(dir=os.path.dirname(b_dest))
+                    shutil.copy2(b_src, b_mysrc)
+                module.atomic_move(b_mysrc, dest, unsafe_writes=module.params['unsafe_writes'])
             except IOError:
                 module.fail_json(msg="failed to copy: %s to %s" % (src, dest), traceback=traceback.format_exc())
         changed = True
@@ -333,7 +348,7 @@ def main():
         changed = False
 
     res_args = dict(
-        dest = dest, src = src, md5sum = md5sum_src, checksum = checksum_src, changed = changed
+        dest=dest, src=src, md5sum=md5sum_src, checksum=checksum_src, changed=changed
     )
     if backup_file:
         res_args['backup_file'] = backup_file
@@ -345,6 +360,5 @@ def main():
 
     module.exit_json(**res_args)
 
-# import module snippets
-from ansible.module_utils.basic import *
-main()
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    main()
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/files/file.py b/lib/ansible/modules/files/file.py
index f23c1d51e9e..d9203a2a73f 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/files/file.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/files/file.py
@@ -18,12 +18,6 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 # along with Ansible.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
-import errno
-import shutil
-import stat
-import grp
-import pwd
-
 DOCUMENTATION = '''
 ---
 module: file
@@ -37,7 +31,7 @@ description:
 notes:
     - See also M(copy), M(template), M(assemble)
 requirements: [ ]
-author: 
+author:
     - "Ansible Core Team"
     - "Michael DeHaan"
 options:
@@ -112,16 +106,27 @@ EXAMPLES = '''
 
 '''
 
+import errno
+import os
+import shutil
+import time
 
-def get_state(path):
+# import module snippets
+from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule
+from ansible.module_utils.pycompat24 import get_exception
+from ansible.module_utils.six import b
+from ansible.module_utils._text import to_bytes, to_native
+
+
+def get_state(b_path):
     ''' Find out current state '''
 
-    if os.path.lexists(path):
-        if os.path.islink(path):
+    if os.path.lexists(b_path):
+        if os.path.islink(b_path):
             return 'link'
-        elif os.path.isdir(path):
+        elif os.path.isdir(b_path):
             return 'directory'
-        elif os.stat(path).st_nlink > 1:
+        elif os.stat(b_path).st_nlink > 1:
             return 'hard'
         else:
             # could be many other things, but defaulting to file
@@ -129,70 +134,73 @@ def get_state(path):
 
     return 'absent'
 
-def recursive_set_attributes(module, path, follow, file_args):
+
+def recursive_set_attributes(module, b_path, follow, file_args):
     changed = False
-    for root, dirs, files in os.walk(path):
-        for fsobj in dirs + files:
-            fsname = os.path.join(root, fsobj)
-            if not os.path.islink(fsname):
+    for b_root, b_dirs, b_files in os.walk(b_path):
+        for b_fsobj in b_dirs + b_files:
+            b_fsname = os.path.join(b_root, b_fsobj)
+            if not os.path.islink(b_fsname):
                 tmp_file_args = file_args.copy()
-                tmp_file_args['path']=fsname
+                tmp_file_args['path'] = to_native(b_fsname, errors='surrogate_or_strict')
                 changed |= module.set_fs_attributes_if_different(tmp_file_args, changed)
             else:
                 tmp_file_args = file_args.copy()
-                tmp_file_args['path']=fsname
+                tmp_file_args['path'] = to_native(b_fsname, errors='surrogate_or_strict')
                 changed |= module.set_fs_attributes_if_different(tmp_file_args, changed)
                 if follow:
-                    fsname = os.path.join(root, os.readlink(fsname))
-                    if os.path.isdir(fsname):
-                        changed |= recursive_set_attributes(module, fsname, follow, file_args)
+                    b_fsname = os.path.join(b_root, os.readlink(b_fsname))
+                    if os.path.isdir(b_fsname):
+                        changed |= recursive_set_attributes(module, b_fsname, follow, file_args)
                     tmp_file_args = file_args.copy()
-                    tmp_file_args['path']=fsname
+                    tmp_file_args['path'] = to_native(b_fsname, errors='surrogate_or_strict')
                     changed |= module.set_fs_attributes_if_different(tmp_file_args, changed)
     return changed
 
+
 def main():
 
     module = AnsibleModule(
-        argument_spec = dict(
-            state = dict(choices=['file','directory','link','hard','touch','absent'], default=None),
-            path  = dict(aliases=['dest', 'name'], required=True),
-            original_basename = dict(required=False), # Internal use only, for recursive ops
-            recurse  = dict(default=False, type='bool'),
-            force = dict(required=False, default=False, type='bool'),
-            diff_peek = dict(default=None), # Internal use only, for internal checks in the action plugins
-            validate = dict(required=False, default=None), # Internal use only, for template and copy
-            src = dict(required=False, default=None),
+        argument_spec=dict(
+            state=dict(choices=['file', 'directory', 'link', 'hard', 'touch', 'absent'], default=None),
+            path=dict(aliases=['dest', 'name'], required=True, type='path'),
+            original_basename=dict(required=False),  # Internal use only, for recursive ops
+            recurse=dict(default=False, type='bool'),
+            force=dict(required=False, default=False, type='bool'),
+            diff_peek=dict(default=None),  # Internal use only, for internal checks in the action plugins
+            validate=dict(required=False, default=None),  # Internal use only, for template and copy
+            src=dict(required=False, default=None, type='path'),
         ),
         add_file_common_args=True,
         supports_check_mode=True
     )
 
     params = module.params
-    state  = params['state']
+    state = params['state']
     force = params['force']
     diff_peek = params['diff_peek']
     src = params['src']
+    b_src = to_bytes(src, errors='surrogate_or_strict')
     follow = params['follow']
 
     # modify source as we later reload and pass, specially relevant when used by other modules.
-    params['path'] = path = os.path.expanduser(params['path'])
+    path = params['path']
+    b_path = to_bytes(path, errors='surrogate_or_strict')
 
     # short-circuit for diff_peek
     if diff_peek is not None:
         appears_binary = False
         try:
-            f = open(path)
-            b = f.read(8192)
+            f = open(b_path, 'rb')
+            head = f.read(8192)
             f.close()
-            if "\x00" in b:
+            if b("\x00") in head:
                 appears_binary = True
         except:
             pass
         module.exit_json(path=path, changed=False, appears_binary=appears_binary)
 
-    prev_state = get_state(path)
-
+    prev_state = get_state(b_path)
 
     # state should default to file, but since that creates many conflicts,
     # default to 'current' when it exists.
@@ -204,18 +212,16 @@ def main():
 
     # source is both the source of a symlink or an informational passing of the src for a template module
     # or copy module, even if this module never uses it, it is needed to key off some things
-    if src is not None:
-        src = os.path.expanduser(src)
-    else:
-        if state in ['link','hard']:
+    if src is None:
+        if state in ('link', 'hard'):
             if follow and state == 'link':
                 # use the current target of the link as the source
-                src = os.path.realpath(path)
+                src = to_native(os.path.realpath(b_path), errors='strict')
             else:
                 module.fail_json(msg='src and dest are required for creating links')
 
     # original_basename is used by other modules that depend on file.
-    if os.path.isdir(path) and state not in ["link", "absent"]:
+    if os.path.isdir(b_path) and state not in ("link", "absent"):
         basename = None
         if params['original_basename']:
             basename = params['original_basename']
@@ -223,6 +229,7 @@ def main():
             basename = os.path.basename(src)
         if basename:
             params['path'] = path = os.path.join(path, basename)
+            b_path = to_bytes(path, errors='surrogate_or_strict')
 
     # make sure the target path is a directory when we're doing a recursive operation
     recurse = params['recurse']
@@ -232,11 +239,8 @@ def main():
     file_args = module.load_file_common_arguments(params)
 
     changed = False
-    diff = {'before':
-                {'path': path}
-            ,
-            'after':
-                {'path': path}
+    diff = {'before': {'path': path},
+            'after': {'path': path},
             }
 
     state_change = False
@@ -250,13 +254,13 @@ def main():
             if not module.check_mode:
                 if prev_state == 'directory':
                     try:
-                        shutil.rmtree(path, ignore_errors=False)
+                        shutil.rmtree(b_path, ignore_errors=False)
                     except Exception:
                         e = get_exception()
                         module.fail_json(msg="rmtree failed: %s" % str(e))
                 else:
                     try:
-                        os.unlink(path)
+                        os.unlink(b_path)
                     except Exception:
                         e = get_exception()
                         module.fail_json(path=path, msg="unlinking failed: %s " % str(e))
@@ -269,11 +273,12 @@ def main():
         if state_change:
             if follow and prev_state == 'link':
                 # follow symlink and operate on original
-                path = os.path.realpath(path)
-                prev_state = get_state(path)
+                b_path = os.path.realpath(b_path)
+                path = to_native(b_path, errors='strict')
+                prev_state = get_state(b_path)
                 file_args['path'] = path
 
-        if prev_state not in ['file','hard']:
+        if prev_state not in ('file', 'hard'):
             # file is not absent and any other state is a conflict
             module.fail_json(path=path, msg='file (%s) is %s, cannot continue' % (path, prev_state))
 
@@ -282,8 +287,9 @@ def main():
 
     elif state == 'directory':
         if follow and prev_state == 'link':
-            path = os.path.realpath(path)
-            prev_state = get_state(path)
+            b_path = os.path.realpath(b_path)
+            path = to_native(b_path, errors='strict')
+            prev_state = get_state(b_path)
 
         if prev_state == 'absent':
             if module.check_mode:
@@ -301,17 +307,18 @@ def main():
                     # Remove leading slash if we're creating a relative path
                     if not os.path.isabs(path):
                         curpath = curpath.lstrip('/')
-                    if not os.path.exists(curpath):
+                    b_curpath = to_bytes(curpath, errors='surrogate_or_strict')
+                    if not os.path.exists(b_curpath):
                         try:
-                            os.mkdir(curpath)
+                            os.mkdir(b_curpath)
                         except OSError:
                             ex = get_exception()
                             # Possibly something else created the dir since the os.path.exists
                             # check above. As long as it's a dir, we don't need to error out.
-                            if not (ex.errno == errno.EEXIST and os.path.isdir(curpath)):
+                            if not (ex.errno == errno.EEXIST and os.path.isdir(b_curpath)):
                                 raise
                         tmp_file_args = file_args.copy()
-                        tmp_file_args['path']=curpath
+                        tmp_file_args['path'] = curpath
                         changed = module.set_fs_attributes_if_different(tmp_file_args, changed, diff)
             except Exception:
                 e = get_exception()
@@ -324,45 +331,47 @@ def main():
         changed = module.set_fs_attributes_if_different(file_args, changed, diff)
 
         if recurse:
-            changed |= recursive_set_attributes(module, file_args['path'], follow, file_args)
+            changed |= recursive_set_attributes(module, to_bytes(file_args['path'], errors='surrogate_or_strict'), follow, file_args)
 
         module.exit_json(path=path, changed=changed, diff=diff)
 
-    elif state in ['link','hard']:
+    elif state in ('link', 'hard'):
 
-        if os.path.isdir(path) and not os.path.islink(path):
+        if os.path.isdir(b_path) and not os.path.islink(b_path):
             relpath = path
         else:
-            relpath = os.path.dirname(path)
+            b_relpath = os.path.dirname(b_path)
+            relpath = to_native(b_relpath, errors='strict')
 
         absrc = os.path.join(relpath, src)
-        if not os.path.exists(absrc) and not force:
+        b_absrc = to_bytes(absrc, errors='surrogate_or_strict')
+        if not os.path.exists(b_absrc) and not force:
             module.fail_json(path=path, src=src, msg='src file does not exist, use "force=yes" if you really want to create the link: %s' % absrc)
 
         if state == 'hard':
-            if not os.path.isabs(src):
+            if not os.path.isabs(b_src):
                 module.fail_json(msg="absolute paths are required")
         elif prev_state == 'directory':
             if not force:
                 module.fail_json(path=path, msg='refusing to convert between %s and %s for %s' % (prev_state, state, path))
-            elif len(os.listdir(path)) > 0:
+            elif len(os.listdir(b_path)) > 0:
                 # refuse to replace a directory that has files in it
                 module.fail_json(path=path, msg='the directory %s is not empty, refusing to convert it' % path)
-        elif prev_state in ['file', 'hard'] and not force:
+        elif prev_state in ('file', 'hard') and not force:
             module.fail_json(path=path, msg='refusing to convert between %s and %s for %s' % (prev_state, state, path))
 
         if prev_state == 'absent':
             changed = True
         elif prev_state == 'link':
-            old_src = os.readlink(path)
-            if old_src != src:
+            b_old_src = os.readlink(b_path)
+            if b_old_src != b_src:
                 changed = True
         elif prev_state == 'hard':
-            if not (state == 'hard' and os.stat(path).st_ino == os.stat(src).st_ino):
+            if not (state == 'hard' and os.stat(b_path).st_ino == os.stat(b_src).st_ino):
                 changed = True
                 if not force:
                     module.fail_json(dest=path, src=src, msg='Cannot link, different hard link exists at destination')
-        elif prev_state in ['file', 'directory']:
+        elif prev_state in ('file', 'directory'):
             changed = True
             if not force:
                 module.fail_json(dest=path, src=src, msg='Cannot link, %s exists at destination' % prev_state)
@@ -372,31 +381,33 @@ def main():
         if changed and not module.check_mode:
             if prev_state != 'absent':
                 # try to replace atomically
-                tmppath = '/'.join([os.path.dirname(path), ".%s.%s.tmp" % (os.getpid(),time.time())])
+                b_tmppath = to_bytes(os.path.sep).join(
+                    [os.path.dirname(b_path), to_bytes(".%s.%s.tmp" % (os.getpid(), time.time()))]
+                )
                 try:
                     if prev_state == 'directory' and (state == 'hard' or state == 'link'):
-                        os.rmdir(path)
+                        os.rmdir(b_path)
                     if state == 'hard':
-                        os.link(src,tmppath)
+                        os.link(b_src, b_tmppath)
                     else:
-                        os.symlink(src, tmppath)
-                    os.rename(tmppath, path)
+                        os.symlink(b_src, b_tmppath)
+                    os.rename(b_tmppath, b_path)
                 except OSError:
                     e = get_exception()
-                    if os.path.exists(tmppath):
-                        os.unlink(tmppath)
-                    module.fail_json(path=path, msg='Error while replacing: %s' % str(e))
+                    if os.path.exists(b_tmppath):
+                        os.unlink(b_tmppath)
+                    module.fail_json(path=path, msg='Error while replacing: %s' % to_native(e, nonstring='simplerepr'))
             else:
                 try:
                     if state == 'hard':
-                        os.link(src,path)
+                        os.link(b_src, b_path)
                     else:
-                        os.symlink(src, path)
+                        os.symlink(b_src, b_path)
                 except OSError:
                     e = get_exception()
-                    module.fail_json(path=path, msg='Error while linking: %s' % str(e))
+                    module.fail_json(path=path, msg='Error while linking: %s' % to_native(e, nonstring='simplerepr'))
 
-        if module.check_mode and not os.path.exists(path):
+        if module.check_mode and not os.path.exists(b_path):
             module.exit_json(dest=path, src=src, changed=changed, diff=diff)
 
         changed = module.set_fs_attributes_if_different(file_args, changed, diff)
@@ -407,16 +418,16 @@ def main():
 
             if prev_state == 'absent':
                 try:
-                    open(path, 'w').close()
+                    open(b_path, 'wb').close()
                 except OSError:
                     e = get_exception()
-                    module.fail_json(path=path, msg='Error, could not touch target: %s' % str(e))
-            elif prev_state in ['file', 'directory', 'hard']:
+                    module.fail_json(path=path, msg='Error, could not touch target: %s' % to_native(e, nonstring='simplerepr'))
+            elif prev_state in ('file', 'directory', 'hard'):
                 try:
-                    os.utime(path, None)
+                    os.utime(b_path, None)
                 except OSError:
                     e = get_exception()
-                    module.fail_json(path=path, msg='Error while touching existing target: %s' % str(e))
+                    module.fail_json(path=path, msg='Error while touching existing target: %s' % to_native(e, nonstring='simplerepr'))
             else:
                 module.fail_json(msg='Cannot touch other than files, directories, and hardlinks (%s is %s)' % (path, prev_state))
             try:
@@ -428,15 +439,12 @@ def main():
                     # somewhere in basic.py
                     if prev_state == 'absent':
                         # If we just created the file we can safely remove it
-                        os.remove(path)
+                        os.remove(b_path)
                 raise e
 
         module.exit_json(dest=path, changed=True, diff=diff)
 
     module.fail_json(path=path, msg='unexpected position reached')
 
-# import module snippets
-from ansible.module_utils.basic import *
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     main()
-
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/files/stat.py b/lib/ansible/modules/files/stat.py
index f28ddcc0cc1..38ede211643 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/files/stat.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/files/stat.py
@@ -328,6 +328,7 @@ import stat
 # import module snippets
 from ansible.module_utils.basic import AnsibleModule
 from ansible.module_utils.pycompat24 import get_exception
+from ansible.module_utils._text import to_bytes
 
 
 def format_output(module, path, st, follow, get_md5, get_checksum,
@@ -369,7 +370,7 @@ def format_output(module, path, st, follow, get_md5, get_checksum,
         readable=os.access(path, os.R_OK),
         writeable=os.access(path, os.W_OK),
         excutable=os.access(path, os.X_OK),
-        )
+    )
 
     if stat.S_ISLNK(mode):
         output['lnk_source'] = os.path.realpath(path)
@@ -417,6 +418,7 @@ def main():
     )
 
     path = module.params.get('path')
+    b_path = to_bytes(path, errors='surrogate_or_strict')
     follow = module.params.get('follow')
     get_mime = module.params.get('mime')
     get_md5 = module.params.get('get_md5')
@@ -425,9 +427,9 @@ def main():
 
     try:
         if follow:
-            st = os.stat(path)
+            st = os.stat(b_path)
         else:
-            st = os.lstat(path)
+            st = os.lstat(b_path)
     except OSError:
         e = get_exception()
         if e.errno == errno.ENOENT: