diff --git a/ietf/sync/iana.py b/ietf/sync/iana.py
index f588fb02d..cc72547d5 100644
--- a/ietf/sync/iana.py
+++ b/ietf/sync/iana.py
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ def update_history_with_changes(changes, send_email=True):
 
 
 def parse_review_email(text):
-    msg = email.message_from_string(text)
+    msg = email.message_from_string(text.encode("utf-8"))
 
     # doc
     doc_name = ""
diff --git a/ietf/sync/tests.py b/ietf/sync/tests.py
index aed7eb60a..7c85b38dc 100644
--- a/ietf/sync/tests.py
+++ b/ietf/sync/tests.py
@@ -127,6 +127,7 @@ class IANASyncTestCase(django.test.TestCase):
         msg = """From: "%(person)s via RT" <drafts-lastcall@iana.org>
 Date: Thu, 10 May 2012 12:00:00 +0000
 Subject: [IANA #12345] Last Call: <%(draft)s-%(rev)s.txt> (Long text) to Informational RFC
+
 (BEGIN IANA LAST CALL COMMENTS)
 
 IESG: