diff --git a/agents/raritan/fence_raritan.py b/agents/raritan/fence_raritan.py
index 17fa0f5f..5d8f3856 100644
--- a/agents/raritan/fence_raritan.py
+++ b/agents/raritan/fence_raritan.py
@@ -1,84 +1,84 @@
 #!@PYTHON@ -tt
 
 import sys, re, pexpect
 import atexit
 sys.path.append("@FENCEAGENTSLIBDIR@")
 from fencing import *
 from fencing import fspawn, fail, EC_LOGIN_DENIED, run_delay
 
 # --plug should include path to the outlet # such as port 1:
 # /system1/outlet1
 
 def get_power_status(conn, options):
 	conn.send_eol("show -d properties=powerState %s" % options["--plug"])
 	re_status = re.compile(".*powerState is [12].*")
 	conn.log_expect(re_status, int(options["--shell-timeout"]))
 	status = {
 		#"0" : "off",
 		"1" : "on",
 		"2" : "off",
 	}[conn.after.split()[2]]
 
 	return status
 
 def set_power_status(conn, options):
 	action = {
 		"on" : "on",
 		"off" : "off",
 	}[options["--action"]]
 
 	conn.send_eol("set %s powerState=%s" % (options["--plug"], action))
 
 def main():
 	device_opt = ["ipaddr", "login", "passwd", "port", "telnet"]
 
 	atexit.register(atexit_handler)
 
 	opt = process_input(device_opt)
 
 	all_opt["ipport"]["default"] = "23"
 
 	opt["eol"] = "\r\n"
 	options = check_input(device_opt, opt)
 
 	docs = {}
 	docs["shortdesc"] = "I/O Fencing agent for Raritan Dominion PX"
 	docs["longdesc"] = "fence_raritan is an I/O Fencing agent which can be \
 used with the Raritan DPXS12-20 Power Distribution Unit. It logs into \
 device via telnet and reboots a specified outlet. Lengthy telnet connections \
 should be avoided while a GFS cluster is running because the connection will \
 block any necessary fencing actions."
 	docs["vendorurl"] = "http://www.raritan.com/"
 	show_docs(options, docs)
 
 	#  add support also for delay before login which is very useful for 2-node clusters
 	run_delay(options)
 
 	##
 	## Operate the fencing device
 	## We can not use fence_login(), username and passwd are sent on one line
 	####
 	try:
-		conn = fspawn(options, options["--telnet-path"])
+		conn = fspawn(options, options["--telnet-path"], encoding="latin1")
 		conn.send("set binary\n")
 		conn.send("open %s -%s\n"%(options["--ip"], options["--ipport"]))
 		conn.read_nonblocking(size=100, timeout=int(options["--shell-timeout"]))
 		conn.log_expect("Login.*", int(options["--shell-timeout"]))
 		conn.send_eol("%s" % (options["--username"]))
 		conn.log_expect("Password.*", int(options["--shell-timeout"]))
 		conn.send_eol("%s" % (options["--password"]))
 		conn.log_expect("clp.*", int(options["--shell-timeout"]))
 	except pexpect.EOF:
 		fail(EC_LOGIN_DENIED)
 	except pexpect.TIMEOUT:
 		fail(EC_LOGIN_DENIED)
 
 	result = 0
 	if options["--action"] != "monitor":
 		result = fence_action(conn, options, set_power_status, get_power_status)
 
 	fence_logout(conn, "exit\n")
 	sys.exit(result)
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
 	main()