diff --git a/lib/core/common.py b/lib/core/common.py
index 9fd4b99f6..548244afd 100644
--- a/lib/core/common.py
+++ b/lib/core/common.py
@@ -1248,7 +1248,12 @@ def parseTargetUrl():
     conf.path = __urlSplit[2].strip()
     conf.hostname = __hostnamePort[0].strip()
 
-    if any((re.search(r'\s', conf.hostname), '..' in conf.hostname, conf.hostname.startswith('.'))):
+    try:
+        _ = conf.hostname.encode("idna")
+    except UnicodeError:
+        _ = None
+
+    if any((_ is None, re.search(r'\s', conf.hostname), '..' in conf.hostname, conf.hostname.startswith('.'))):
         errMsg = "invalid target url"
         raise sqlmapSyntaxException, errMsg