diff --git a/IPython/core/magics/execution.py b/IPython/core/magics/execution.py
index d9d77dc..fe60e27 100644
--- a/IPython/core/magics/execution.py
+++ b/IPython/core/magics/execution.py
@@ -85,9 +85,17 @@ class TimeitResult(object):
         return (math.fsum([(x - mean) ** 2 for x in self.timings]) / len(self.timings)) ** 0.5
 
     def __str__(self):
+        pm = '+-'
+        if hasattr(sys.stdout, 'encoding') and sys.stdout.encoding:
+            try:
+                u'\xb1'.encode(sys.stdout.encoding)
+                pm = u'\xb1'
+            except:
+                pass
         return (
-            u"{mean} ± {std} per loop (mean ± std. dev. of {runs} run{run_plural}, {loops} loop{loop_plural} each)"
+            u"{mean} {pm} {std} per loop (mean {pm} std. dev. of {runs} run{run_plural}, {loops} loop{loop_plural} each)"
                 .format(
+                    pm = pm,
                     runs = self.repeat,
                     loops = self.loops,
                     loop_plural = "" if self.loops == 1 else "s",
diff --git a/IPython/core/tests/test_interactiveshell.py b/IPython/core/tests/test_interactiveshell.py
index a7402d9..4f166f9 100644
--- a/IPython/core/tests/test_interactiveshell.py
+++ b/IPython/core/tests/test_interactiveshell.py
@@ -598,12 +598,12 @@ class TestAstTransform(unittest.TestCase):
             called.add(x)
         ip.push({'f':f})
         
-        with tt.AssertPrints("mean ± std"):
+        with tt.AssertPrints("std. dev. of"):
             ip.run_line_magic("timeit", "-n1 f(1)")
         self.assertEqual(called, {-1})
         called.clear()
 
-        with tt.AssertPrints("mean ± std"):
+        with tt.AssertPrints("std. dev. of"):
             ip.run_cell_magic("timeit", "-n1 f(2)", "f(3)")
         self.assertEqual(called, {-2, -3})
     
@@ -671,12 +671,12 @@ class TestAstTransform2(unittest.TestCase):
             called.add(x)
         ip.push({'f':f})
 
-        with tt.AssertPrints("mean ± std"):
+        with tt.AssertPrints("std. dev. of"):
             ip.run_line_magic("timeit", "-n1 f(1)")
         self.assertEqual(called, {(1,)})
         called.clear()
 
-        with tt.AssertPrints("mean ± std"):
+        with tt.AssertPrints("std. dev. of"):
             ip.run_cell_magic("timeit", "-n1 f(2)", "f(3)")
         self.assertEqual(called, {(2,), (3,)})