diff --git a/Lib/test/test_utf8_mode.py b/Lib/test/test_utf8_mode.py
index 26e2e13ec53..3e918fd54ce 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_utf8_mode.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_utf8_mode.py
@@ -219,6 +219,8 @@ class UTF8ModeTests(unittest.TestCase):
         check('utf8', [arg_utf8])
         if sys.platform == 'darwin' or support.is_android:
             c_arg = arg_utf8
+        elif sys.platform.startswith("aix"):
+            c_arg = arg.decode('iso-8859-1')
         else:
             c_arg = arg_ascii
         check('utf8=0', [c_arg], LC_ALL='C')
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Tests/2018-08-25-13-28-18.bpo-34347.IsRDPB.rst b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Tests/2018-08-25-13-28-18.bpo-34347.IsRDPB.rst
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..0959476b931
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Tests/2018-08-25-13-28-18.bpo-34347.IsRDPB.rst
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Fix `test_utf8_mode.test_cmd_line` for AIX