diff --git a/C4/Templates.pm b/C4/Templates.pm
index a5981490a4..9a07d95232 100644
--- a/C4/Templates.pm
+++ b/C4/Templates.pm
@@ -108,6 +108,7 @@ sub param{
     while(@_){
 	my $key = shift;
 	my $val = shift;
+        utf8::encode($val) if utf8::is_utf8($val);
 	$self->{VARS}->{$key} = $val;
     }
 }