diff --git a/curses/wicd-curses.py b/curses/wicd-curses.py
index e5e1326..7b8a5e7 100755
--- a/curses/wicd-curses.py
+++ b/curses/wicd-curses.py
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ def check_for_wireless(iwconfig, wireless_ip, set_status):
     if not network:
         return False
 
-    network = unicode(network)
+    network = misc.to_unicode(network)
     if daemon.GetSignalDisplayType() == 0:
         strength = wireless.GetCurrentSignalStrength(iwconfig)
     else:
@@ -154,12 +154,12 @@ def check_for_wireless(iwconfig, wireless_ip, set_status):
 
     if strength is None:
         return False
-    strength = str(strength)            
-    ip = str(wireless_ip)
+    strength = misc.to_unicode(daemon.FormatSignalForPrinting(strength))
+    ip = misc.to_unicode(wireless_ip)
     set_status(_('Connected to $A at $B (IP: $C)').replace
                     ('$A', network).replace
-                    ('$B', daemon.FormatSignalForPrinting(strength)).replace
-                    ('$C', wireless_ip))
+                    ('$B', strength).replace
+                    ('$C', ip))
     return True