gistfile1.diff

diff --git a/django/db/backends/sqlite3/base.py b/django/db/backends/sqlite3/base.py
index b9caf8b..324adfd 100644
--- a/django/db/backends/sqlite3/base.py
+++ b/django/db/backends/sqlite3/base.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ from django.db.backends.sqlite3.introspection import DatabaseIntrospection
 from django.db.models import fields
 from django.db.models.sql import aggregates
 from django.utils.dateparse import parse_date, parse_datetime, parse_time
+from django.utils.encoding import force_text
 from django.utils.functional import cached_property
 from django.utils.safestring import SafeBytes
 from django.utils import six
@@ -522,4 +523,4 @@ def _sqlite_format_dtdelta(dt, conn, days, secs, usecs):
     return str(dt)
 
 def _sqlite_regexp(re_pattern, re_string):
-    return bool(re.search(re_pattern, str(re_string))) if re_string is not None else False
+    return bool(re.search(re_pattern, force_text(re_string))) if re_string is not None else False
diff --git a/tests/lookup/tests.py b/tests/lookup/tests.py
index fe8a5fa..680360e 100644
--- a/tests/lookup/tests.py
+++ b/tests/lookup/tests.py
@@ -625,6 +625,14 @@ class LookupTests(TestCase):
         self.assertQuerysetEqual(Season.objects.filter(gt__regex=r'^444$'),
             ['<Season: 2013>'])
 
+    def test_regex_non_ascii(self):
+        """
+        Ensure that a regex lookup does not trip on non-ascii characters.
+        """
+        Player.objects.create(name='\u2660')
+        self.assertQuerysetEqual(Player.objects.filter(name__regex='\u2660'),
+            ['<Player: \u2660>'])
+
     def test_nonfield_lookups(self):
         """
         Ensure that a lookup query containing non-fields raises the proper