diff --git a/lib/core/convert.py b/lib/core/convert.py
index a92f08279..71afeb0ae 100644
--- a/lib/core/convert.py
+++ b/lib/core/convert.py
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ def encodeBase64(value, binary=True, encoding=None):
 
     return retVal
 
-def getBytes(value, encoding=UNICODE_ENCODING, errors="strict", unsafe=True):
+def getBytes(value, encoding=None, errors="strict", unsafe=True):
     """
     Returns byte representation of provided Unicode value
 
@@ -237,9 +237,12 @@ def getBytes(value, encoding=UNICODE_ENCODING, errors="strict", unsafe=True):
 
     retVal = value
 
+    if encoding is None:
+        encoding = conf.encoding or UNICODE_ENCODING
+
     try:
         codecs.lookup(encoding)
-    except LookupError:
+    except (LookupError, TypeError):
         encoding = UNICODE_ENCODING
 
     if isinstance(value, six.text_type):
diff --git a/lib/core/settings.py b/lib/core/settings.py
index 5695adc83..d86e27bda 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 = "1.4.1.19"
+VERSION = "1.4.1.20"
 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/dbms/mysql/syntax.py b/plugins/dbms/mysql/syntax.py
index 8d135c93e..b9b841828 100644
--- a/plugins/dbms/mysql/syntax.py
+++ b/plugins/dbms/mysql/syntax.py
@@ -26,6 +26,6 @@ class Syntax(GenericSyntax):
             if all(_ < 128 for _ in getOrds(value)):
                 return "0x%s" % getUnicode(binascii.hexlify(getBytes(value)))
             else:
-                return "CONVERT(0x%s USING utf8)" % getUnicode(binascii.hexlify(getBytes(value)))
+                return "CONVERT(0x%s USING utf8)" % getUnicode(binascii.hexlify(getBytes(value, "utf8")))
 
         return Syntax._escape(expression, quote, escaper)