diff --git a/lib/core/settings.py b/lib/core/settings.py
index c182ed140..743d18ab5 100644
--- a/lib/core/settings.py
+++ b/lib/core/settings.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ from lib.core.enums import OS
 from thirdparty import six
 
 # sqlmap version (<major>.<minor>.<month>.<monthly commit>)
-VERSION = "1.3.5.27"
+VERSION = "1.3.5.28"
 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)
diff --git a/lib/request/connect.py b/lib/request/connect.py
index 379011dfd..9a76435a9 100644
--- a/lib/request/connect.py
+++ b/lib/request/connect.py
@@ -613,7 +613,7 @@ class Connect(object):
                 page = getUnicode(page)
 
             code = ex.code
-            status = getattr(ex, "reason", None) or getSafeExString(ex).split(": ", 1)[-1]
+            status = getUnicode(getattr(ex, "reason", None) or getSafeExString(ex).split(": ", 1)[-1])
 
             kb.originalCode = kb.originalCode or code
             threadData.lastHTTPError = (threadData.lastRequestUID, code, status)