diff --git a/lib/core/option.py b/lib/core/option.py
index 526693768..02d740314 100644
--- a/lib/core/option.py
+++ b/lib/core/option.py
@@ -1524,6 +1524,13 @@ def _cleanupOptions():
     Cleanup configuration attributes.
     """
 
+    if conf.encoding:
+        try:
+            codecs.lookup(conf.encoding)
+        except Exception as ex:
+            errMsg = "unknown encoding '%s'" % conf.encoding
+            raise SqlmapValueException(errMsg)
+
     debugMsg = "cleaning up configuration parameters"
     logger.debug(debugMsg)
 
diff --git a/lib/core/settings.py b/lib/core/settings.py
index 3f4794336..96883a969 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 = "1.3.11.98"
+VERSION = "1.3.11.99"
 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)