diff --git a/modules/Markov.py b/modules/Markov.py
index 3f5f0e5..c4d5895 100644
--- a/modules/Markov.py
+++ b/modules/Markov.py
@@ -424,7 +424,13 @@ class Markov(Module):
             results = cur.fetchall()
 
             for result in results:
-                values.append(result['v'].encode('utf-8', 'replace'))
+                try:
+                    values.append(result['v'])
+                except UnicodeDecodeError as e:
+                    self.log.error("error appending value from database")
+                    self.log.error(e)
+                    self.log.debug("v: {0:s}".format(result['v']))
+                    pass
 
             return values
         except mdb.Error as e:
@@ -445,7 +451,13 @@ class Markov(Module):
             results = cur.fetchall()
 
             for result in results:
-                values.append(result['k2'].encode('utf-8', 'replace'))
+                try:
+                    values.append(result['k2'])
+                except UnicodeDecodeError as e:
+                    self.log.error("error appending k2 from database")
+                    self.log.error(e)
+                    self.log.debug("k2: {0:s}".format(result['k2']))
+                    pass
 
             return values
         except mdb.Error as e: