diff --git a/sopel_modules/SpiceBot/AI.py b/sopel_modules/SpiceBot/AI.py
index 850669e..9ba7b56 100644
--- a/sopel_modules/SpiceBot/AI.py
+++ b/sopel_modules/SpiceBot/AI.py
@@ -121,20 +121,25 @@ class SpiceBot_AI():
         self.aiml_kernel.respond("LOAD AIML B")
 
     def on_message(self, bot, trigger, message):
+        try:
 
-        nick = Identifier(trigger.nick)
-        nick_id = botdb.get_nick_id(nick, create=True)
-        self.check_user_import(nick, nick_id)
+            nick = Identifier(trigger.nick)
+            nick_id = botdb.get_nick_id(nick, create=True)
+            self.check_user_import(nick, nick_id)
 
-        message = self.bot_message_precipher(bot, trigger, message)
-        aiml_response = self.aiml_kernel.respond(message, nick_id)
-        if aiml_response:
-            aiml_response = self.bot_message_decipher(bot, trigger, aiml_response)
+            message = self.bot_message_precipher(bot, trigger, message)
+            aiml_response = self.aiml_kernel.respond(message, nick_id)
+            if aiml_response:
+                aiml_response = self.bot_message_decipher(bot, trigger, aiml_response)
 
-        self.save_nick_session(nick, nick_id)
-        self.save_brain()
+            self.save_nick_session(nick, nick_id)
+            self.save_brain()
 
-        return aiml_response
+            return aiml_response
+        except Exception as e:
+            returnval = e
+            returnval = None
+            return returnval
 
     def bot_message_precipher(self, bot, trigger, message):
 
diff --git a/sopel_modules/SpiceBot_AI/AI_aiml.py b/sopel_modules/SpiceBot_AI/AI_aiml.py
index 7db20d4..76b4892 100644
--- a/sopel_modules/SpiceBot_AI/AI_aiml.py
+++ b/sopel_modules/SpiceBot_AI/AI_aiml.py
@@ -23,9 +23,6 @@ def bot_command_rule(bot, trigger):
 
     message = trigger.args[1]
 
-    if is_ascii(message):
-        return
-
     # ignore text coming from a valid prefix
     if str(message).startswith(tuple(bot.config.core.prefix_list)):
         trigger_args, trigger_command = SpiceBot.prerun.trigger_args(message, 'module')
@@ -62,7 +59,7 @@ def bot_command_rule(bot, trigger):
         trigger_args, trigger_command = SpiceBot.prerun.trigger_args(message, 'module')
         fulltrigger = spicemanip.main(trigger_args, 0)
 
-    returnmessage = SpiceBot.botai.on_message(bot, trigger, message)
+    returnmessage = SpiceBot.botai.on_message(bot, trigger, str(message).encode('utf-8'))
     if returnmessage:
         bot.osd(str(returnmessage))
     else: