diff --git a/lib/core/common.py b/lib/core/common.py
index 9a6da74e2..a6a1c37ec 100644
--- a/lib/core/common.py
+++ b/lib/core/common.py
@@ -4774,7 +4774,7 @@ def serializeObject(object_):
     """
     Serializes given object
 
-    >>> type(serializeObject([1, 2, 3, ('a', 'b')])) == six.binary_type
+    >>> type(serializeObject([1, 2, 3, ('a', 'b')])) == str
     True
     """
 
diff --git a/lib/core/convert.py b/lib/core/convert.py
index 11197b537..8aa22490c 100644
--- a/lib/core/convert.py
+++ b/lib/core/convert.py
@@ -48,16 +48,16 @@ def base64pickle(value):
     retVal = None
 
     try:
-        retVal = encodeBase64(pickle.dumps(value, PICKLE_PROTOCOL))
+        retVal = encodeBase64(pickle.dumps(value, PICKLE_PROTOCOL), binary=False)
     except:
         warnMsg = "problem occurred while serializing "
         warnMsg += "instance of a type '%s'" % type(value)
         singleTimeWarnMessage(warnMsg)
 
         try:
-            retVal = encodeBase64(pickle.dumps(value))
+            retVal = encodeBase64(pickle.dumps(value), binary=False)
         except:
-            retVal = encodeBase64(pickle.dumps(str(value), PICKLE_PROTOCOL))
+            retVal = encodeBase64(pickle.dumps(str(value), PICKLE_PROTOCOL), binary=False)
 
     return retVal
 
diff --git a/lib/core/settings.py b/lib/core/settings.py
index d82145369..daa517fde 100644
--- a/lib/core/settings.py
+++ b/lib/core/settings.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ from lib.core.enums import OS
 from thirdparty.six import unichr as _unichr
 
 # sqlmap version (<major>.<minor>.<month>.<monthly commit>)
-VERSION = "1.4.9.7"
+VERSION = "1.4.9.8"
 TYPE = "dev" if VERSION.count('.') > 2 and VERSION.split('.')[-1] != '0' else "stable"
 TYPE_COLORS = {"dev": 33, "stable": 90, "pip": 34}
 VERSION_STRING = "sqlmap/%s#%s" % ('.'.join(VERSION.split('.')[:-1]) if VERSION.count('.') > 2 and VERSION.split('.')[-1] == '0' else VERSION, TYPE)