diff --git a/weboob/backends/canaltp/browser.py b/weboob/backends/canaltp/browser.py
index a982f1c0..fba3a7e8 100644
--- a/weboob/backends/canaltp/browser.py
+++ b/weboob/backends/canaltp/browser.py
@@ -29,7 +29,8 @@ class CanalTP(BaseBrowser):
         BaseBrowser.__init__(self, '')
 
     def iter_station_search(self, pattern):
-        result = self.openurl(u"http://widget.canaltp.fr/Prochains_departs_15122009/dev/gare.php?txtrech=%s" % unicode(pattern)).read()
+        url = u'http://widget.canaltp.fr/Prochains_departs_15122009/dev/gare.php?txtrech=%s' % unicode(pattern)
+        result = self.openurl(url.encode('utf-8')).read()
         for station in result.split('&'):
             try:
                 _id, name = station.split('=')
@@ -39,7 +40,8 @@ class CanalTP(BaseBrowser):
                 yield _id, to_unicode(name)
 
     def iter_station_departures(self, station_id, arrival_id=None):
-        result = self.openurl(u"http://widget.canaltp.fr/Prochains_departs_15122009/dev/index.php?gare=%s" % unicode(station_id)).read()
+        url = u'http://widget.canaltp.fr/Prochains_departs_15122009/dev/index.php?gare=%s' % unicode(station_id)
+        result = self.openurl(url.encode('utf-8')).read()
         result = result
         departure = ''
         for line in result.split('&'):
diff --git a/weboob/backends/gazelle/backend.py b/weboob/backends/gazelle/backend.py
index ab55c387..930baec5 100644
--- a/weboob/backends/gazelle/backend.py
+++ b/weboob/backends/gazelle/backend.py
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ class GazelleBackend(BaseBackend, ICapTorrent):
         if not torrent:
             return None
 
-        return self.browser.openurl(torrent.url).read()
+        return self.browser.openurl(torrent.url.encode('utf-8')).read()
 
     def iter_torrents(self, pattern):
         return self.browser.iter_torrents(pattern)
diff --git a/weboob/backends/youjizz/browser.py b/weboob/backends/youjizz/browser.py
index bd6a43e6..2cb3c237 100644
--- a/weboob/backends/youjizz/browser.py
+++ b/weboob/backends/youjizz/browser.py
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ class YoujizzBrowser(BaseBrowser):
         if video is None:
             video = YoujizzVideo()
         try:
-            data = self.openurl(url).read()
+            data = self.openurl(url.encode('utf-8')).read()
         except BrowserUnavailable:
             return None
         def _get_url():