diff --git a/pyfritzhome/fritzhome.py b/pyfritzhome/fritzhome.py
index b09002d..906c120 100644
--- a/pyfritzhome/fritzhome.py
+++ b/pyfritzhome/fritzhome.py
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ def _aha_request(self, cmd, ain=None, param=None, rf=str):
 
         if rf == bool:
             return bool(int(plain))
-        return rf(plain)
+        return rf(plain.encode('utf-8', 'error'))
 
     def login(self):
         """Login and get a valid session ID."""