diff --git a/graphene_django/converter.py b/graphene_django/converter.py
index 8d39c6b..c7c5cd6 100644
--- a/graphene_django/converter.py
+++ b/graphene_django/converter.py
@@ -29,7 +29,8 @@ singledispatch = import_single_dispatch()
 
 
 def convert_choice_name(name):
-    name = to_const(force_text(name))
+    name = force_text(name).encode('utf8').decode('ascii', 'ignore')
+    name = to_const(name)
     try:
         assert_valid_name(name)
     except AssertionError:
diff --git a/graphene_django/tests/models.py b/graphene_django/tests/models.py
index 2d9b794..1d456b2 100644
--- a/graphene_django/tests/models.py
+++ b/graphene_django/tests/models.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ from __future__ import absolute_import
 from django.db import models
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy as _
 
-CHOICES = ((1, "1: this"), (2, _("2: that")))
+CHOICES = ((1, "1: this漢"), (2, _("2: that漢")))
 
 
 class Pet(models.Model):