diff --git a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/helpers.py b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/helpers.py
index b5c79f59ae..37a5fd71cb 100644
--- a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/helpers.py
+++ b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/helpers.py
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ def xblock_studio_url(xblock, parent_xblock=None):
     elif category in ('chapter', 'sequential'):
         return u'{url}?show={usage_key}'.format(
             url=reverse_course_url('course_handler', xblock.location.course_key),
-            usage_key=urllib.quote(unicode(xblock.location))
+            usage_key=urllib.quote(unicode(xblock.location).encode('utf8'))
         )
     elif category == 'library':
         library_key = xblock.location.course_key
diff --git a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/tests/test_helpers.py b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/tests/test_helpers.py
index 576ea38808..91c86d3a8d 100644
--- a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/tests/test_helpers.py
+++ b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/tests/test_helpers.py
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ Unit tests for helpers.py.
 from contentstore.tests.utils import CourseTestCase
 from contentstore.views.helpers import xblock_studio_url, xblock_type_display_name
 from xmodule.modulestore.tests.factories import ItemFactory, LibraryFactory
+from xmodule.modulestore.xml import XMLModuleStore
+from xmodule.tests import DATA_DIR
 from django.utils import http
 
 
@@ -55,6 +57,17 @@ class HelpersTestCase(CourseTestCase):
         expected_url = u'/library/{}'.format(unicode(library.location.library_key))
         self.assertEqual(xblock_studio_url(library), expected_url)
 
+    def test_unicode_xblock_studio_url(self):
+
+        #import unicode course
+        modulestore = XMLModuleStore(DATA_DIR, course_dirs=['2014_Uni'])
+        courses = modulestore.get_courses()
+        course = courses[0]
+
+        # Verify course URL
+        course_url = http.urlquote('/course/{}'.format(course.id))
+        self.assertEqual(xblock_studio_url(course), course_url)
+
     def test_xblock_type_display_name(self):
 
         # Verify chapter type display name