gistfile1.diff

diff --git a/steps/misc.py b/steps/misc.py
--- a/steps/misc.py
+++ b/steps/misc.py
@@ -409,16 +409,17 @@ class SendChangeStep(ShellCommand):
                 if re.search('try: ', comments, re.MULTILINE):
                     comments = 'try: ' + ' '.join(processMessage(comments))
                 else:
                     try:
                         comments = comments.splitlines()[0]
                     except IndexError:
                         comments = ''
                 comments = re.sub(r'[\r\n^<>|;&"\'%$]', '_', comments)
+                comments = comments.encode('ascii', 'replace')
                 if comments:
                     bb_cmd.extend(['--comments', comments])
 
             for key, value in sendchange_props:
                 bb_cmd.extend(['--property', '%s:%s' % (key, value)])
 
             if files:
                 bb_cmd.extend(self.files)