diff --git a/marketo/__init__.py b/marketo/__init__.py
index 287da5e..9992e00 100644
--- a/marketo/__init__.py
+++ b/marketo/__init__.py
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ def wrap(self, body):
 
     def request(self, body):
         envelope = self.wrap(body)
-        response = requests.post(self.soap_endpoint, data=envelope,
+        response = requests.post(self.soap_endpoint, data=envelope.encode('utf8'),
             headers={
                 'Connection': 'Keep-Alive',
                 'Soapaction': '',
diff --git a/marketo/wrapper/get_lead.py b/marketo/wrapper/get_lead.py
index 29cdf62..e096fa3 100644
--- a/marketo/wrapper/get_lead.py
+++ b/marketo/wrapper/get_lead.py
@@ -14,6 +14,6 @@ def wrap(email=None):
 
 
 def unwrap(response):
-    root = ET.fromstring(response.text)
+    root = ET.fromstring(response.text.encode('utf8'))
     lead_record_xml = root.find('.//leadRecord')
     return lead_record.unwrap(lead_record_xml)
diff --git a/marketo/wrapper/get_lead_activity.py b/marketo/wrapper/get_lead_activity.py
index 8eec5ab..e2e1d62 100644
--- a/marketo/wrapper/get_lead_activity.py
+++ b/marketo/wrapper/get_lead_activity.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ def wrap(email=None):
 
 
 def unwrap(response):
-    root = ET.fromstring(response.text)
+    root = ET.fromstring(response.text.encode('utf8'))
     activities = []
     for activity_el in root.findall('.//activityRecord'):
         activity = lead_activity.unwrap(activity_el)
diff --git a/marketo/wrapper/sync_lead.py b/marketo/wrapper/sync_lead.py
index 1702e66..eaaffd2 100644
--- a/marketo/wrapper/sync_lead.py
+++ b/marketo/wrapper/sync_lead.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ def wrap(email=None, attributes=None):
         attr += '<attribute>' \
             '<attrName>' + i[0] + '</attrName>' \
             '<attrType>' + i[1] + '</attrType>' \
-            '<attrValue>' + escape(i[2]) + '</attrValue>' \
+            '<attrValue>' + escape(str(i[2])) + '</attrValue>' \
             '</attribute>'
 
     return(
@@ -26,6 +26,6 @@ def wrap(email=None, attributes=None):
 
 
 def unwrap(response):
-    root = ET.fromstring(response.text)
+    root = ET.fromstring(response.text.encode('utf8'))
     lead_record_xml = root.find('.//leadRecord')
     return lead_record.unwrap(lead_record_xml)