diff --git a/src/coders/commons.cpp b/src/coders/commons.cpp
index 82033cd5..6cf36c1c 100644
--- a/src/coders/commons.cpp
+++ b/src/coders/commons.cpp
@@ -67,10 +67,11 @@ std::string escape_string(std::string s) {
             case '"': ss << "\\\""; break;
             case '\\': ss << "\\\\"; break;
             default:
-                if (c < ' ') {
+                /*if (c < ' ') {
                     ss << "\\" << std::oct << uint(ubyte(c));
                     break;
-                }
+                }*/
+                // write it utf-8 encoded as is
                 ss << c;
                 break;
         }