diff --git a/contrib/pylightning/lightning/lightning.py b/contrib/pylightning/lightning/lightning.py
index 434fbc0234f3..5e1cfff92746 100644
--- a/contrib/pylightning/lightning/lightning.py
+++ b/contrib/pylightning/lightning/lightning.py
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ def __init__(self, socket_path, executor=None, logger=logging, encoder_cls=json.
         self.next_id = 0
 
     def _writeobj(self, sock, obj):
-        s = json.dumps(obj, cls=self.encoder_cls)
+        s = json.dumps(obj, ensure_ascii=False, cls=self.encoder_cls)
         sock.sendall(bytearray(s, 'UTF-8'))
 
     def _readobj(self, sock, buff=b''):
diff --git a/tests/test_misc.py b/tests/test_misc.py
index e80ef84fb530..7faa8c3c993d 100644
--- a/tests/test_misc.py
+++ b/tests/test_misc.py
@@ -1700,7 +1700,6 @@ def test_signmessage(node_factory):
     assert checknokey['verified']
 
 
-@pytest.mark.xfail(strict=True)
 def test_unicode_rpc(node_factory):
     node = node_factory.get_node()
     desc = "Some candy 🍬 and a nice glass of milk 🥛."