diff --git a/lib/controller/checks.py b/lib/controller/checks.py
index 2202dab0d..588f63f2e 100644
--- a/lib/controller/checks.py
+++ b/lib/controller/checks.py
@@ -389,6 +389,8 @@ def checkConnection():
         conf.seqMatcher.set_seq1(page)
 
     except sqlmapConnectionException, exceptionMsg:
+        exceptionMsg = str(exceptionMsg)
+
         if conf.multipleTargets:
             exceptionMsg += ", skipping to next url"
             logger.warn(exceptionMsg)
diff --git a/lib/core/settings.py b/lib/core/settings.py
index df6d10661..853a0ee2c 100644
--- a/lib/core/settings.py
+++ b/lib/core/settings.py
@@ -100,6 +100,10 @@ SQL_STATEMENTS    = {
                       "SQL data control":      (
                              "grant ",         ),
 
+                      "SQL data execution":    (
+                             "exec ",
+                             "execute ",       ),
+
                       "SQL transaction":       (
                              "start transaction ",
                              "begin work ",
diff --git a/plugins/dbms/mssqlserver.py b/plugins/dbms/mssqlserver.py
index 92627f645..3d783d254 100644
--- a/plugins/dbms/mssqlserver.py
+++ b/plugins/dbms/mssqlserver.py
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ class MSSQLServerMap(Fingerprint, Enumeration, Filesystem, Takeover):
             logger.info(logMsg)
 
             for version in ( 0, 5, 8 ):
-                payload = agent.fullPayload(" AND SUBSTRING((@@VERSION), 25, 1)='%d'" % version)
+                payload = agent.fullPayload(" AND SUBSTRING((@@VERSION), 25, 1)=%d" % version)
                 result  = Request.queryPage(payload)
 
                 if result == True: