diff --git a/pyfpdb/Charset.py b/pyfpdb/Charset.py
index f8043876..16c236b6 100644
--- a/pyfpdb/Charset.py
+++ b/pyfpdb/Charset.py
@@ -40,6 +40,16 @@ def to_utf8(s):
         print 'Could not convert: "%s"' % s
         raise
 
+def to_db_utf8(s):
+    if not_needed: return s
+
+    try:
+        (_out, _len) = encoder_to_utf.encode(unicode(s))
+        return _out
+    except UnicodeDecodeError:
+        print 'Could not convert: "%s"' % s
+        raise
+
 def to_gui(s):
     if not_needed: return s
 
diff --git a/pyfpdb/Database.py b/pyfpdb/Database.py
index 2d91ff4c..c340079c 100644
--- a/pyfpdb/Database.py
+++ b/pyfpdb/Database.py
@@ -1558,7 +1558,7 @@ class Database:
 
     def insertPlayer(self, name, site_id):
         result = None
-        _name = Charset.to_utf8(name)
+        _name = Charset.to_db_utf8(name)
         c = self.get_cursor()
         q = "SELECT name, id FROM Players WHERE siteid=%s and name=%s"
         q = q.replace('%s', self.sql.query['placeholder'])