diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index 1f241f7..cb8d603 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -1,12 +1,6 @@
 Wicd 1.7 Series
 ---------------
 
-1.7.1
-    Major Changes:
-    - Wireless networks with NULL bytes ('\x00') in the ESSID are not
-      supported. They will still show up in the UIs, but you won't be able
-      to do anything with them.
-
 1.7.1b2:
 	Changes for Packagers:
 	- You will now want to use the --python option to setup.py configure to 
diff --git a/cli/wicd-cli.py b/cli/wicd-cli.py
index 6145771..89113c7 100755
--- a/cli/wicd-cli.py
+++ b/cli/wicd-cli.py
@@ -158,9 +158,6 @@ if options.network_property:
         if not options.set_to:
             print wireless.GetWirelessProperty(network_id, options.network_property)
         else:
-            if '<NULL>' in wireless.GetWirelessProperty(network_id, 'essid'):
-                print 'ERROR: networks with NULL bytes are not supported.'
-                sys.exit(2)
             wireless.SetWirelessProperty(network_id, \
                     options.network_property, options.set_to)
     elif options.wired:
@@ -187,9 +184,6 @@ if options.connect:
         is_valid_wireless_network_id(options.network)
         name = wireless.GetWirelessProperty(options.network, 'essid')
         encryption = wireless.GetWirelessProperty(options.network, 'enctype')
-        if '<NULL>' in name:
-            print 'ERROR: networks with NULL bytes are not supported.'
-            sys.exit(2)
         print "Connecting to %s with %s on %s" % (name, encryption,
                 wireless.DetectWirelessInterface())
         wireless.ConnectWireless(options.network)
@@ -248,10 +242,6 @@ if options.wireless and options.list_encryption_types:
 if options.save and options.network > -1:
     if options.wireless:
         is_valid_wireless_network_id(options.network)
-        essid = wireless.GetWirelessProperty(options.network, 'essid')
-        if '<NULL>' in essid:
-            print 'ERROR: networks with NULL bytes are not supported.'
-            sys.exit(2)
         config.SaveWirelessNetworkProfile(options.network)
     elif options.wired:
         config.SaveWiredNetworkProfile(options.name)
diff --git a/curses/wicd-curses.py b/curses/wicd-curses.py
index e2c4148..7b8a5e7 100755
--- a/curses/wicd-curses.py
+++ b/curses/wicd-curses.py
@@ -364,9 +364,6 @@ class NetLabel(urwid.WidgetWrap):
 
         self.__super.__init__(w)
     def selectable(self):
-        # Disable widget if the ESSID contains one (or more) NULL byte
-        if '<NULL>' in self.essid:
-            return False
         return True
     def keypress(self,size,key):
         return self._w.keypress(size,key)
diff --git a/gtk/netentry.py b/gtk/netentry.py
index 814240f..4a27a83 100644
--- a/gtk/netentry.py
+++ b/gtk/netentry.py
@@ -862,10 +862,6 @@ class WirelessNetworkEntry(NetworkEntry):
         self.advanced_dialog = WirelessSettingsDialog(networkID)
         self.wifides = self.connect("destroy", self.destroy_called)
 
-        # Disable widget if the ESSID contains one (or more) NULL byte
-        if '<NULL>' in self.essid:
-            self.set_sensitive(False)
-
     def _escape(self, val):
         """ Escapes special characters so they're displayed correctly. """
         return val.replace("&", "&amp;").replace("<", "&lt;").\
diff --git a/wicd/wnettools.py b/wicd/wnettools.py
index 5825586..3b316e2 100644
--- a/wicd/wnettools.py
+++ b/wicd/wnettools.py
@@ -1252,11 +1252,6 @@ class BaseWirelessInterface(BaseInterface):
             print 'Unicode problem with current network essid, ignoring!!'
             return None
 
-        # We (well, DBus) don't support ESSIDs with null bytes in it.
-        # Substitute the byte for use everywhere, so that the UIs know
-        # what to disable.
-        ap['essid'].replace('\x00', '<NULL>')
-
         if ap['essid'] in ['Hidden', '<hidden>', "", None]:
             print 'hidden'
             ap['hidden'] = True