diff --git a/gramps2/src/docgen/PdfDoc.py b/gramps2/src/docgen/PdfDoc.py
index e178bc0d6..c46d759d6 100644
--- a/gramps2/src/docgen/PdfDoc.py
+++ b/gramps2/src/docgen/PdfDoc.py
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ class PdfDoc(BaseDoc.BaseDoc):
 
     def end_paragraph(self):
         if self.in_table == 0 and self.image == 0:
-	    self.story.append(Paragraph(self.text,self.current_para))
+	    self.story.append(Paragraph(self.text.encode('iso-8859-1'),self.current_para))
         else:
             self.image = 0
 
@@ -511,7 +511,7 @@ class PdfDoc(BaseDoc.BaseDoc):
         fc = make_color(font.get_color())
         s = reportlab.graphics.shapes.String(x*cm,
                                              yt,
-                                             str(text),
+                                             text.encode('iso-8859-1'),
                                              fontName=fnt,
                                              fontSize=font.get_size(),
                                              strokeColor=sc,
@@ -532,7 +532,7 @@ class PdfDoc(BaseDoc.BaseDoc):
         for text in lines:
             s = reportlab.graphics.shapes.String(start_x*cm,
                                                  start_y*cm,
-                                                 str(text),
+                                                 text.encode('iso-8859-1'),
                                                  fontName=fnt,
                                                  fontSize=size,
                                                  strokeColor=sc,
@@ -551,7 +551,7 @@ class PdfDoc(BaseDoc.BaseDoc):
         for text in lines:
             s = reportlab.graphics.shapes.String(start_x,
                                                  start_y,
-                                                 str(text),
+                                                 text.encode('iso-8859-1'),
                                                  fontSize=size,
                                                  strokeColor=sc,
                                                  fillColor=fc,