diff --git a/helpdesk/management/commands/get_email.py b/helpdesk/management/commands/get_email.py
index 97b5b8cc..26c63a73 100644
--- a/helpdesk/management/commands/get_email.py
+++ b/helpdesk/management/commands/get_email.py
@@ -260,7 +260,7 @@ def decode_mail_headers(string):
 
 def ticket_from_message(message, queue, logger):
     # 'message' must be an RFC822 formatted message.
-    message = email.message_from_string(message)
+    message = email.message_from_string(message.encode('utf-8'))
     subject = message.get('subject', _('Created from e-mail'))
     subject = decode_mail_headers(decodeUnknown(message.get_charset(), subject))
     for affix in STRIPPED_SUBJECT_STRINGS: