diff --git a/ispell.py b/ispell.py
index 5fb2b96..7dd010f 100644
--- a/ispell.py
+++ b/ispell.py
@@ -60,17 +60,18 @@ class Speller(object):
         if word in self.cache:
             result = self.cache[word]
         else:
-            if self.pipe.poll() >= 0:
+            res = self.pipe.poll()
+            if res is None or res >= 0:
                 self.pipe = None
                 self.start()
-            self.pipe.stdin.write("%s\n" % (word))
+            self.pipe.stdin.write(word.encode('utf-8') + b'\n') #"%s\n" % (word))
             self.pipe.stdin.flush()
             l = self.pipe.stdout.readline()
-            if l.startswith("*") or l.startswith("+") or l.startswith("-"):
+            if l.startswith(b"*") or l.startswith(b"+") or l.startswith(b"-"):
                 result = True
             while True:
                 l = self.pipe.stdout.readline()
-                if l == "\n":
+                if l == b"\n":
                     break
             self.cache[word] = result
         return result