diff --git a/apps/jobs/views.py b/apps/jobs/views.py
index fcfe8c4b7c..b21fff2f1f 100644
--- a/apps/jobs/views.py
+++ b/apps/jobs/views.py
@@ -1111,8 +1111,8 @@ def update_submission(request, challenge_pk):
         challenge_phase_pk = request.data.get("challenge_phase")
         submission_pk = request.data.get("submission")
         submission_status = request.data.get("submission_status", "").lower()
-        stdout_content = request.data.get("stdout", "")
-        stderr_content = request.data.get("stderr", "")
+        stdout_content = request.data.get("stdout", "").encode("utf-8")
+        stderr_content = request.data.get("stderr", "").encode("utf-8")
         submission_result = request.data.get("result", "")
         metadata = request.data.get("metadata", "")
         submission = get_submission_model(submission_pk)