diff --git a/lib/core/update.py b/lib/core/update.py
index 9be92a530..c88ae74a6 100644
--- a/lib/core/update.py
+++ b/lib/core/update.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ Copyright (c) 2006-2016 sqlmap developers (http://sqlmap.org/)
 See the file 'doc/COPYING' for copying permission
 """
 
+import locale
 import os
 import re
 import time
@@ -43,7 +44,7 @@ def update():
         dataToStdout("\r[%s] [INFO] update in progress " % time.strftime("%X"))
 
         try:
-            process = execute("git checkout . && git pull %s HEAD" % GIT_REPOSITORY, shell=True, stdout=PIPE, stderr=PIPE, cwd=paths.SQLMAP_ROOT_PATH)
+            process = execute("git checkout . && git pull %s HEAD" % GIT_REPOSITORY, shell=True, stdout=PIPE, stderr=PIPE, cwd=paths.SQLMAP_ROOT_PATH.encode(locale.getpreferredencoding()))  # Reference: http://blog.stastnarodina.com/honza-en/spot/python-unicodeencodeerror/
             pollProcess(process, True)
             stdout, stderr = process.communicate()
             success = not process.returncode