diff --git a/lib/core/option.py b/lib/core/option.py
index a39989ad8..7512cb116 100644
--- a/lib/core/option.py
+++ b/lib/core/option.py
@@ -1529,7 +1529,7 @@ def _createHomeDirectories():
         return
 
     for context in ("output", "history"):
-        directory = paths["SQLMAP_%s_PATH" % context.upper()]
+        directory = paths["SQLMAP_%s_PATH" % getUnicode(context).upper()]   # NOTE: https://github.com/sqlmapproject/sqlmap/issues/4363
         try:
             if not os.path.isdir(directory):
                 os.makedirs(directory)
diff --git a/lib/core/settings.py b/lib/core/settings.py
index ca7a23534..7a91dd560 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 = "1.4.9.23"
+VERSION = "1.4.10.0"
 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)