diff --git a/bugwarrior/db.py b/bugwarrior/db.py
index 5c775ec22..2cdd43eb7 100644
--- a/bugwarrior/db.py
+++ b/bugwarrior/db.py
@@ -418,7 +418,7 @@ def _bool_option(section, option, default):
         log.name('db').info(
             "Completing task {0} {1}{2}",
             issue,
-            task_info.get('description'),
+            task_info.get('description', '').encode('utf-8'),
             notreally
         )
         if dry_run: