diff --git a/evennia/server/portal/telnet.py b/evennia/server/portal/telnet.py
index 74aa9721cf..751745ce6f 100644
--- a/evennia/server/portal/telnet.py
+++ b/evennia/server/portal/telnet.py
@@ -243,7 +243,7 @@ class TelnetProtocol(Telnet, StatefulTelnetProtocol, Session):
             line (str): Line to send.
 
         """
-        line = self.try_encode(line)
+        line = self.encode_output(line)
         # escape IAC in line mode, and correctly add \r\n (the TELNET end-of-line)
         line = line.replace(IAC, IAC + IAC)
         line = line.replace(b'\n', b'\r\n')
@@ -343,7 +343,7 @@ class TelnetProtocol(Telnet, StatefulTelnetProtocol, Session):
                                          strip_ansi=nocolor, xterm256=xterm256)
                 if mxp:
                     prompt = mxp_parse(prompt)
-            prompt = self.try_encode(prompt)
+            prompt = self.encode_output(prompt)
             prompt = prompt.replace(IAC, IAC + IAC).replace(b'\n', b'\r\n')
             prompt += IAC + GA
             self.transport.write(mccp_compress(self, prompt))
diff --git a/evennia/server/session.py b/evennia/server/session.py
index 5481860163..002f8db7b3 100644
--- a/evennia/server/session.py
+++ b/evennia/server/session.py
@@ -137,9 +137,9 @@ class Session(object):
 
     # helpers
 
-    def try_encode(self, text):
+    def encode_output(self, text):
         """
-        Try to encode the given text, following the session's protocol flag.
+        Encode the given text for output, following the session's protocol flag.
 
         Args:
             text (str or bytes): the text to encode to bytes.