diff --git a/lib/core/settings.py b/lib/core/settings.py
index 263815080..28d4bab08 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 = "1.2.4.3"
+VERSION = "1.2.4.4"
 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/lib/request/connect.py b/lib/request/connect.py
index 0c130916a..de1d9bdbe 100644
--- a/lib/request/connect.py
+++ b/lib/request/connect.py
@@ -578,7 +578,7 @@ class Connect(object):
                 page = page if isinstance(page, unicode) else getUnicode(page)
 
             code = ex.code
-            status = getUnicode(ex.msg)
+            status = getSafeExString(ex)
 
             kb.originalCode = kb.originalCode or code
             threadData.lastHTTPError = (threadData.lastRequestUID, code, status)
diff --git a/txt/checksum.md5 b/txt/checksum.md5
index 4989c8c65..ed19de5c6 100644
--- a/txt/checksum.md5
+++ b/txt/checksum.md5
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ b950c8c2f2ae87ad2ec99e1d19b2c03a  lib/core/option.py
 0c3eef46bdbf87e29a3f95f90240d192  lib/core/replication.py
 a7db43859b61569b601b97f187dd31c5  lib/core/revision.py
 fcb74fcc9577523524659ec49e2e964b  lib/core/session.py
-18951ad78a0c84df536edef011b2c0f0  lib/core/settings.py
+e761fd544a135ac76c2ca15ec9bb874c  lib/core/settings.py
 0dfc2ed40adf72e302291f6ecd4406f6  lib/core/shell.py
 a7edc9250d13af36ac0108f259859c19  lib/core/subprocessng.py
 a35efa7bec9f1e6cedf17c9830a79241  lib/core/target.py
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ ec4e56bbb1349176b2a22e0b99ba6a55  lib/parse/payloads.py
 30eed3a92a04ed2c29770e1b10d39dc0  lib/request/basicauthhandler.py
 7e8e0a3fdebbe443832c1bab2f8d3869  lib/request/basic.py
 c0cabedead14b8a23353b606672cff42  lib/request/comparison.py
-acc31fac4efc25741c061bf8d7f8c3a2  lib/request/connect.py
+86e8a444425006b9adba1d4e2cf66eca  lib/request/connect.py
 dd4598675027fae99f2e2475b05986da  lib/request/direct.py
 2044fce3f4ffa268fcfaaf63241b1e64  lib/request/dns.py
 eee965d781546d05f36cfd14af050913  lib/request/httpshandler.py