diff --git a/src/xpra/net/file_transfer.py b/src/xpra/net/file_transfer.py
index a0874b4e01..4330a46ea6 100644
--- a/src/xpra/net/file_transfer.py
+++ b/src/xpra/net/file_transfer.py
@@ -319,7 +319,14 @@ def delfile():
             printlog.error(" printers available: %s", csv(printers.keys()) or "none")
             delfile()
             return
-        job = print_files(printer, [filename], title, options)
+        try:
+            job = print_files(printer, [filename], title, options)
+        except Exception as e:
+            printlog("print_files%s", (printer, [filename], title, options), exc_info=True)
+            printlog.error("Error: cannot print file '%s'", os.path.basename(filename))
+            printlog.error(" %s", e)
+            delfile()
+            return
         printlog("printing %s, job=%s", filename, job)
         if job<=0:
             printlog("printing failed and returned %i", job)
diff --git a/src/xpra/platform/pycups_printing.py b/src/xpra/platform/pycups_printing.py
index 9df587019e..f0258df885 100755
--- a/src/xpra/platform/pycups_printing.py
+++ b/src/xpra/platform/pycups_printing.py
@@ -402,7 +402,7 @@ def print_files(printer, filenames, title, options):
         raise Exception("invalid printer: '%s'" % printer)
     log("pycups.print_files%s", (printer, filenames, title, options))
     actual_options = DEFAULT_CUPS_OPTIONS.copy()
-    actual_options.update(options)
+    actual_options.update(dict(str(k),str(v) for k,v in options.items()))
     if SIMULATE_PRINT_FAILURE:
         log.warn("Warning: simulating print failure")
         conn = None