diff --git a/rophako/utils.py b/rophako/utils.py
index 6141fc1..8be49a7 100644
--- a/rophako/utils.py
+++ b/rophako/utils.py
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ def render_markdown(body, html_escape=True, extensions=None, blacklist=None):
         for ext in blacklist:
             args["extensions"].remove(str(ext))
 
-    return '<div class="markdown">{}</div>'.format(
+    return u'<div class="markdown">{}</div>'.format(
         markdown.markdown(body, **args)
     )