diff --git a/dynette.rb b/dynette.rb
index 09e0c0f..f52c84d 100755
--- a/dynette.rb
+++ b/dynette.rb
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ end
 ['/test/:subdomain', '/key/:public_key', '/ips/:public_key', '/ban/:ip', '/unban/:ip' ].each do |path|
     before path do
         if params.has_key?("public_key")
-            public_key = Base64.decode64(params[:public_key])
+            public_key = Base64.decode64(params[:public_key].encode('ascii-8bit'))
             puts public_key
             unless public_key.length == 24
                 halt 400, { :error => "Key is invalid: #{public_key.to_s.encode('UTF-8', {:invalid => :replace, :undef => :replace, :replace => '?'})}" }.to_json