diff --git a/lib/core/option.py b/lib/core/option.py
index 75bd66eac..761ac15d5 100644
--- a/lib/core/option.py
+++ b/lib/core/option.py
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ import cookielib
 import glob
 import inspect
 import logging
-import httplib
 import os
 import random
 import re
@@ -1816,16 +1815,6 @@ def _cleanupEnvironment():
     if hasattr(socket, "_ready"):
         socket._ready.clear()
 
-def _dirtyPatches():
-    """
-    Place for "dirty" Python related patches
-    """
-
-    httplib._MAXLINE = 1 * 1024 * 1024                          # accept overly long result lines (e.g. SQLi results in HTTP header responses)
-
-    if IS_WIN:
-        from thirdparty.wininetpton import win_inet_pton        # add support for inet_pton() on Windows OS
-
 def _purgeOutput():
     """
     Safely removes (purges) output directory.
@@ -2633,7 +2622,6 @@ def init():
     _setRequestFromFile()
     _cleanupOptions()
     _cleanupEnvironment()
-    _dirtyPatches()
     _purgeOutput()
     _checkDependencies()
     _createTemporaryDirectory()
diff --git a/lib/core/patch.py b/lib/core/patch.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f55ab7b4a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/core/patch.py
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+
+"""
+Copyright (c) 2006-2018 sqlmap developers (http://sqlmap.org/)
+See the file 'LICENSE' for copying permission
+"""
+
+import codecs
+import httplib
+
+from lib.core.settings import IS_WIN
+
+def dirtyPatches():
+    """
+    Place for "dirty" Python related patches
+    """
+
+    # accept overly long result lines (e.g. SQLi results in HTTP header responses)
+    httplib._MAXLINE = 1 * 1024 * 1024
+
+    # add support for inet_pton() on Windows OS
+    if IS_WIN:
+        from thirdparty.wininetpton import win_inet_pton
+
+    # Reference: https://github.com/nodejs/node/issues/12786#issuecomment-298652440
+    codecs.register(lambda name: codecs.lookup("utf-8") if name == "cp65001" else None)
diff --git a/lib/core/settings.py b/lib/core/settings.py
index 72907db34..b2e11a8d1 100644
--- a/lib/core/settings.py
+++ b/lib/core/settings.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ from lib.core.enums import DBMS_DIRECTORY_NAME
 from lib.core.enums import OS
 
 # sqlmap version (<major>.<minor>.<month>.<monthly commit>)
-VERSION = "1.2.6.17"
+VERSION = "1.2.6.18"
 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)
diff --git a/sqlmap.py b/sqlmap.py
index 618ea99fb..75272136e 100755
--- a/sqlmap.py
+++ b/sqlmap.py
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ try:
     from lib.core.exception import SqlmapUserQuitException
     from lib.core.option import initOptions
     from lib.core.option import init
+    from lib.core.patch import dirtyPatches
     from lib.core.settings import GIT_PAGE
     from lib.core.settings import IS_WIN
     from lib.core.settings import LEGAL_DISCLAIMER
@@ -114,6 +115,7 @@ def main():
     """
 
     try:
+        dirtyPatches()
         checkEnvironment()
         setPaths(modulePath())
         banner()
diff --git a/txt/checksum.md5 b/txt/checksum.md5
index 7ce69f98e..8898eb6df 100644
--- a/txt/checksum.md5
+++ b/txt/checksum.md5
@@ -41,13 +41,14 @@ cada93357a7321655927fc9625b3bfec  lib/core/exception.py
 1e5532ede194ac9c083891c2f02bca93  lib/core/__init__.py
 458a194764805cd8312c14ecd4be4d1e  lib/core/log.py
 c9a56e58984420a5abb7a3f7aadc196d  lib/core/optiondict.py
-718646541f2b446f40533149fc0f1b30  lib/core/option.py
+332d4bb299a0edbc42100e3cfbead285  lib/core/option.py
+c8c386d644d57c659d74542f5f57f632  lib/core/patch.py
 7cfd04e583cca782b843f6f6d973981a  lib/core/profiling.py
 6f654e1715571eff68a0f8af3d62dcf8  lib/core/readlineng.py
 0c3eef46bdbf87e29a3f95f90240d192  lib/core/replication.py
 a7db43859b61569b601b97f187dd31c5  lib/core/revision.py
 fcb74fcc9577523524659ec49e2e964b  lib/core/session.py
-8a43d5859fe5a416edcbe75f9570f909  lib/core/settings.py
+76cfa95c6b52dbdc3fb5396f8d9d57dc  lib/core/settings.py
 0dfc2ed40adf72e302291f6ecd4406f6  lib/core/shell.py
 a7edc9250d13af36ac0108f259859c19  lib/core/subprocessng.py
 36bd2dc292c0e10e39bd9c43b77fe1bc  lib/core/target.py
@@ -225,7 +226,7 @@ ec2ba8c757ac96425dcd2b97970edd3a  shell/stagers/stager.asp_
 0c48ddb1feb7e38a951ef05a0d48e032  shell/stagers/stager.jsp_
 2f9e459a4cf6a58680978cdce5ff7971  shell/stagers/stager.php_
 4eaeef94314956e4517e5310a28d579a  sqlmapapi.py
-2cc55aaabe5b5acb29745c3832d16aaa  sqlmap.py
+c5ecca109867f7ce4d325f487cf7badd  sqlmap.py
 1a1e3a78ded58b240c9dbb1b17996acf  tamper/0x2char.py
 4c3b8a7daa4bff52e01d4168be0eedbe  tamper/apostrophemask.py
 4115a55b8aba464723d645b7d3156b6e  tamper/apostrophenullencode.py