diff --git a/src/advanced.py b/src/advanced.py
index 5ca72fcaf38fa2fe55fb117022b6ed439b945449..a7773595cf273445a051d4aad52fecda0d30d97a 100644
--- a/src/advanced.py
+++ b/src/advanced.py
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@ def fill_model(self, node=None, parent=None):
 				self.model.append(parent, [name, value, type_])
 
 	def visible_func(self, model, treeiter):
-		search_string  = self.entry.get_text().lower()
+		search_string  = self.entry.get_text().decode('utf-8').lower()
 		for it in tree_model_pre_order(model,treeiter): 
 			if model[it][C_TYPE] != '': 
 				opt_path = self.get_option_path(model, it)