diff --git a/evennia/server/portal/webclient.py b/evennia/server/portal/webclient.py
index faee4c20f4..76c8ae8757 100644
--- a/evennia/server/portal/webclient.py
+++ b/evennia/server/portal/webclient.py
@@ -249,6 +249,8 @@ class WebSocketClient(WebSocketServerProtocol, Session):
                 return
         else:
             return
+        # just to be sure
+        text = to_str(text)
 
         flags = self.protocol_flags