diff --git a/lib/core/settings.py b/lib/core/settings.py
index aeacd2071..baaa8f0a8 100644
--- a/lib/core/settings.py
+++ b/lib/core/settings.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ from thirdparty import six
 from thirdparty.six import unichr as _unichr
 
 # sqlmap version (<major>.<minor>.<month>.<monthly commit>)
-VERSION = "1.8.1.2"
+VERSION = "1.8.1.3"
 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/plugins/generic/custom.py b/plugins/generic/custom.py
index a4b11f686..dbfd589dc 100644
--- a/plugins/generic/custom.py
+++ b/plugins/generic/custom.py
@@ -98,6 +98,10 @@ class Custom(object):
                 query = _input("sql-shell> ")
                 query = getUnicode(query, encoding=sys.stdin.encoding)
                 query = query.strip("; ")
+            except UnicodeDecodeError:
+                print()
+                errMsg = "invalid user input"
+                logger.error(errMsg)
             except KeyboardInterrupt:
                 print()
                 errMsg = "user aborted"