diff --git a/lib/core/settings.py b/lib/core/settings.py
index 49d002eef..41de2c88e 100644
--- a/lib/core/settings.py
+++ b/lib/core/settings.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ from lib.core.enums import OS
 from thirdparty import six
 
 # sqlmap version (<major>.<minor>.<month>.<monthly commit>)
-VERSION = "1.3.5.16"
+VERSION = "1.3.5.17"
 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/lib/takeover/metasploit.py b/lib/takeover/metasploit.py
index 36f4ceac4..41c9db016 100644
--- a/lib/takeover/metasploit.py
+++ b/lib/takeover/metasploit.py
@@ -640,7 +640,7 @@ class Metasploit:
             raise SqlmapFilePathException(errMsg)
 
         self._shellcodeFP = open(self._shellcodeFilePath, "rb")
-        self.shellcodeString = self._shellcodeFP.read()
+        self.shellcodeString = getText(self._shellcodeFP.read())
         self._shellcodeFP.close()
 
         os.unlink(self._shellcodeFilePath)