diff --git a/sqlquerybuilder/__init__.py b/sqlquerybuilder/__init__.py
index 8dc826f..6a6b618 100644
--- a/sqlquerybuilder/__init__.py
+++ b/sqlquerybuilder/__init__.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ def is_map(obj):
 
 def ensureUtf(s):
     if PYTHON3:
-        return s
+        return str(s)
 
     try:
         if isinstance(s, str):