diff --git a/search/browser.py b/search/browser.py
index 6c15bab..3ae7a4b 100644
--- a/search/browser.py
+++ b/search/browser.py
@@ -123,10 +123,14 @@ class SearchResults(BaseView):
         form = self.request.form
         type = form.get('search.1.text', 'loops:*')
         text = form.get('search.2.text')
+        if text is not None:
+            text = util.toUnicode(text, encoding='ISO8859-15') # IE hack!!!
         useTitle = form.get('search.2.title')
         useFull = form.get('search.2.full')
         conceptType = form.get('search.3.type', 'loops:concept:*')
         conceptTitle = form.get('search.3.text')
+        if conceptTitle is not None:
+            conceptTitle = util.toUnicode(conceptTitle, encoding='ISO8859-15')
         conceptUid = form.get('search.3.text_selected')
         result = FullQuery(self).query(text=text, type=type,
                            useTitle=useTitle, useFull=useFull,
diff --git a/util.py b/util.py
index b3ffe4e..43da7de 100644
--- a/util.py
+++ b/util.py
@@ -64,9 +64,9 @@ def nl2br(text):
     else: # gracefully handle Mac line endings
         return '<br />\n'.join(text.split('\r'))
 
-def toUnicode(text):
+def toUnicode(text, encoding='UTF-8'):
     if type(text) is not unicode:
-        return text.decode('UTF-8')
+        return text.decode(encoding)
     else:
         return text