diff --git a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/assets.py b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/assets.py
index 94bfa55b58..b35f00f0e2 100644
--- a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/assets.py
+++ b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/assets.py
@@ -348,6 +348,8 @@ def generate_export_course(request, org, course, name):
     try:
         export_to_xml(modulestore('direct'), contentstore(), loc, root_dir, name, modulestore())
     except SerializationError, e:
+        logging.exception('There was an error exporting course {0}. {1}'.format(course_module.location, unicode(e)))
+
         unit = None
         failed_item = None
         parent = None
@@ -380,6 +382,7 @@ def generate_export_course(request, org, course, name):
             })
         })
     except Exception, e:
+        logging.exception('There was an error exporting course {0}. {1}'.format(course_module.location, unicode(e)))
         return render_to_response('export.html', {
             'context_course': course_module,
             'successful_import_redirect_url': '',
diff --git a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/video_module.py b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/video_module.py
index 407547d9bf..afa811b718 100644
--- a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/video_module.py
+++ b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/video_module.py
@@ -266,7 +266,7 @@ class VideoDescriptor(VideoFields, TabsEditingDescriptor, EmptyDataRawDescriptor
             if key in fields and fields[key].default == getattr(self, key):
                 continue
             if value:
-                xml.set(key, str(value))
+                xml.set(key, unicode(value))
 
         for source in self.html5_sources:
             ele = etree.Element('source')