diff --git a/pyfdb/pyfdb.py b/pyfdb/pyfdb.py
index b3115b6..812482b 100644
--- a/pyfdb/pyfdb.py
+++ b/pyfdb/pyfdb.py
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ def wrapped_fn(*args, **kwargs):
             retval = fn(*args, **kwargs)
             if retval != self.__lib.FDB_SUCCESS and retval != self.__lib.FDB_ITERATION_COMPLETE:
                 error_str = "Error in function {}: {}".format(
-                    name, ffi.string(self.__lib.fdb_error_string(retval)).decode()
+                    name, ffi.string(self.__lib.fdb_error_string(retval)).decode("utf-8", "backslashreplace")
                 )
                 raise FDBException(error_str)
             return retval