diff --git a/lib/util.py b/lib/util.py
index 8ae772415..2b1c4481a 100644
--- a/lib/util.py
+++ b/lib/util.py
@@ -196,6 +196,8 @@ def create_URI(addr, amount, message):
     if amount:
         query.append('amount=%s'%format_satoshis(amount))
     if message:
+        if type(message) == unicode:
+            message = message.encode('utf8')
         query.append('message=%s'%urllib.quote(message))
     p = urlparse.ParseResult(scheme='bitcoin', netloc='', path=addr, params='', query='&'.join(query), fragment='')
     return urlparse.urlunparse(p)