diff --git a/docs/changelog/7.x.x.txt b/docs/changelog/7.x.x.txt
index efa5e5203..11f9571e9 100644
--- a/docs/changelog/7.x.x.txt
+++ b/docs/changelog/7.x.x.txt
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
  - fixed: DataForm entry table isn't properly indexed
  - fixed: DataForm can't export fields containing newlines
  - fixed: UserList templates use incorrect variable names
+ - fixed: International characters in password prevents login
 
 7.6.0
  - added: users may now customize the post received page for the CS
diff --git a/lib/WebGUI/Auth/WebGUI.pm b/lib/WebGUI/Auth/WebGUI.pm
index 528b1f6d0..916f84c7f 100644
--- a/lib/WebGUI/Auth/WebGUI.pm
+++ b/lib/WebGUI/Auth/WebGUI.pm
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ use WebGUI::Mail::Send;
 use WebGUI::Storage::Image;
 use WebGUI::User;
 use WebGUI::Utility;
+use Encode ();
 
 our @ISA = qw(WebGUI::Auth);
 
@@ -119,7 +120,7 @@ sub authenticate {
 	
 	$identifier = $_[1];
 	$userData = $self->getParams;
-	if ((Digest::MD5::md5_base64($identifier) eq $$userData{identifier}) && ($identifier ne "")) {
+	if ((Digest::MD5::md5_base64(Encode::encode_utf8($identifier)) eq $$userData{identifier}) && ($identifier ne "")) {
 		return 1;
 	} 
 	$self->user(WebGUI::User->new($self->session,1));