diff --git a/ircbot/modules/Markov.py b/ircbot/modules/Markov.py
index 1d7faf4..1ba9bbe 100644
--- a/ircbot/modules/Markov.py
+++ b/ircbot/modules/Markov.py
@@ -139,15 +139,15 @@ class Markov(Module):
                     topics = [x for x in addressed_re.match(what).group(1).split(' ') if len(x) >= 3]
 
                     self.lines_seen.append(('.self.said.', datetime.now()))
-                    return self.irc.reply(event, '{0:s}: {1:s}'.format(nick,
-                      ' '.join(_generate_sentence(context, topics=topics))))
+                    return self.irc.reply(event, u"{0:s}: {1:s}".format(nick,
+                      u" ".join(_generate_sentence(context, topics=topics))))
                 else:
                     # i wasn't addressed directly, so just respond
                     topics = [x for x in what.split(' ') if len(x) >= 3]
                     self.lines_seen.append(('.self.said.', datetime.now()))
 
-                    return self.irc.reply(event, '{0:s}'.format(' '.join(_generate_sentence(context,
-                                                                                            topics=topics))))
+                    return self.irc.reply(event, u"{0:s}".format(u" ".join(_generate_sentence(context,
+                                                                                              topics=topics))))
 
     def markov_learn(self, event, nick, userhost, what, admin_unlocked):
         """Learn one line, as provided to the command."""
@@ -190,10 +190,12 @@ class Markov(Module):
                 topics = [x for x in line.split(' ') if len(x) >= 3]
 
                 self.lines_seen.append(('.self.said.', datetime.now()))
-                return ' '.join(_generate_sentence(context, topics=topics, min_words=min_size, max_words=max_size))
+                return u" ".join(_generate_sentence(context, topics=topics,
+                                                    min_words=min_size, max_words=max_size))
             else:
                 self.lines_seen.append(('.self.said.', datetime.now()))
-                return ' '.join(_generate_sentence(context, min_words=min_size, max_words=max_size))
+                return u" ".join(_generate_sentence(context, min_words=min_size,
+                                                    max_words=max_size))
 
     def thread_do(self):
         """Do various things."""