diff --git a/frn/utility.py b/frn/utility.py
index 508aed0..eb7968d 100644
--- a/frn/utility.py
+++ b/frn/utility.py
@@ -30,6 +30,6 @@ def formatSimpleXML(elements):
         items = elements.items()
     else:
         items = elements
-    return ''.join(["<%s>%s</%s>" % (k.upper().encode('utf8'),v.encode('utf8'),k.upper().encode('utf8')) for k,v in items])
+    return ''.join(["<%s>%s</%s>" % (k.upper().encode('utf8'),unicode(v).encode('utf8'),k.upper().encode('utf8')) for k,v in items])
 
 # vim: set et ai sw=4 ts=4 sts=4: