diff --git a/src/Sound/voice.cxx b/src/Sound/voice.cxx
index bf36cee..addf247 100644
--- a/src/Sound/voice.cxx
+++ b/src/Sound/voice.cxx
@@ -198,6 +198,10 @@ FGFestivalVoice::~FGFestivalVoice()
 
 void FGVoiceMgr::FGVoice::pushMessage( const string & m)
 {
+
+    FGLocale::utf8toLatin1(s);
+
+
 	_msg.push(m);
 #if defined(ENABLE_THREADS)
 	_mgr->_thread->wake_up();