diff --git a/util.py b/util.py
index d28790b..4e0c09f 100644
--- a/util.py
+++ b/util.py
@@ -67,3 +67,10 @@ def getUidForObject(obj):
         return '*'
     intIds = component.getUtility(IIntIds)
     return str(intIds.queryId(obj))
+
+
+def toUnicode(text):
+    if type(text) is not unicode:
+        return text.decode('UTF-8')
+    else:
+        return text
diff --git a/xmlrpc/common.py b/xmlrpc/common.py
index 6421f4e..f84d419 100644
--- a/xmlrpc/common.py
+++ b/xmlrpc/common.py
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ from zope.security.proxy import removeSecurityProxy
 from zope.cachedescriptors.property import Lazy
 
 from loops.concept import Concept
-from loops.util import getUidForObject, getObjectForUid
+from loops.util import getUidForObject, getObjectForUid, toUnicode
 
 class LoopsMethods(MethodPublisher):
     """ XML-RPC methods for the loops root object.
@@ -113,6 +113,7 @@ class LoopsMethods(MethodPublisher):
 
     def createConcept(self, typeId, name, title):
         type = getObjectForUid(typeId)
+        title = toUnicode(title)
         c = self.concepts[name] = Concept(title)
         c.conceptType = type
         notify(ObjectCreatedEvent(c))