diff --git a/moulinette/core.py b/moulinette/core.py
index 30de4efd..29530bf4 100644
--- a/moulinette/core.py
+++ b/moulinette/core.py
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ class Translator(object):
                 logging.warning("unknown key '%s' for locale '%s'" %
                         (key, self.default_locale))
                 return key
-        return value
+        return value.encode('utf-8')
 
     def _load_translations(self, locale, overwrite=False):
         """Load translations for a locale