diff --git a/model/User.py b/model/User.py
index 5c0054f..58b7e6d 100644
--- a/model/User.py
+++ b/model/User.py
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ class User( Persistent ):
     if password is None or len( password ) == 0:
       return None
 
-    return sha.new( salt + password ).hexdigest()
+    return sha.new( ( salt + password ).encode( "utf8" ) ).hexdigest()
 
   def check_password( self, password ):
     """