diff --git a/lib/core/convert.py b/lib/core/convert.py
index e27bb2345..b1ba18eb6 100644
--- a/lib/core/convert.py
+++ b/lib/core/convert.py
@@ -256,7 +256,10 @@ def getBytes(value, encoding=None, errors="strict", unsafe=True):
             if unsafe:
                 retVal = re.sub(r"%s([0-9a-f]{2})" % SAFE_HEX_MARKER, lambda _: decodeHex(_.group(1)), retVal)
         else:
-            retVal = value.encode(encoding, errors)
+            try:
+                retVal = value.encode(encoding, errors)
+            except UnicodeError:
+                retVal = value.encode(UNICODE_ENCODING, errors="replace")
 
             if unsafe:
                 retVal = re.sub(b"\\\\x([0-9a-f]{2})", lambda _: decodeHex(_.group(1)), retVal)
diff --git a/lib/core/settings.py b/lib/core/settings.py
index be71209c5..4aa3a118c 100644
--- a/lib/core/settings.py
+++ b/lib/core/settings.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ from lib.core.enums import OS
 from thirdparty.six import unichr as _unichr
 
 # sqlmap version (<major>.<minor>.<month>.<monthly commit>)
-VERSION = "1.4.5.28"
+VERSION = "1.4.5.29"
 TYPE = "dev" if VERSION.count('.') > 2 and VERSION.split('.')[-1] != '0' else "stable"
 TYPE_COLORS = {"dev": 33, "stable": 90, "pip": 34}
 VERSION_STRING = "sqlmap/%s#%s" % ('.'.join(VERSION.split('.')[:-1]) if VERSION.count('.') > 2 and VERSION.split('.')[-1] == '0' else VERSION, TYPE)