diff --git a/session.py b/session.py
index 70a3c22598..eb052157b8 100755
--- a/session.py
+++ b/session.py
@@ -167,6 +167,8 @@ class SessionProtocol(StatefulTelnetProtocol):
       """
       Sends a message to the session.
       """
+      if isinstance(message, unicode):
+          message = message.encode("utf-8")
       self.sendLine("%s" % (message,))
       
    def __str__(self):