diff --git a/resources/lib/userclient.py b/resources/lib/userclient.py
index 7fa353da..066f1a6b 100644
--- a/resources/lib/userclient.py
+++ b/resources/lib/userclient.py
@@ -383,7 +383,8 @@ class UserClient(threading.Thread):
 
         if accessToken is not None:
             self.currUser = username
-            dialog.notification("Emby for Kodi", "%s %s!" % (lang(33000), self.currUser), 1)
+            dialog.notification("Emby for Kodi",
+                                "%s %s!" % (lang(33000), self.currUser.decode('utf-8')))
             userId = result['User']['Id']
             settings('accessToken', value=accessToken)
             settings('userId%s' % username, value=userId)
diff --git a/service.py b/service.py
index 3681b64e..b54a4a7c 100644
--- a/service.py
+++ b/service.py
@@ -178,7 +178,9 @@ class Service():
                                 add = ""
                             xbmcgui.Dialog().notification(
                                         heading="Emby for Kodi",
-                                        message="%s %s%s!" % (lang(33000), user.currUser, add),
+                                        message=("%s %s%s!"
+                                                % (lang(33000), user.currUser.decode('utf-8'),
+                                                    add.decode('utf-8'))),
                                         icon="special://home/addons/plugin.video.emby/icon.png",
                                         time=2000,
                                         sound=False)