diff --git a/scripts/update_api.py b/scripts/update_api.py
index 9e36507d7..7a0f857c3 100755
--- a/scripts/update_api.py
+++ b/scripts/update_api.py
@@ -308,7 +308,7 @@ def display_args_to_z3(params):
         if i > 0:
             core_py.write(", ")
         if param_type(p) == STRING:
-            core_py.write("_to_ascii(a%s)" % i)
+            core_py.write("_str_to_bytes(a%s)" % i)
         else:
             core_py.write("a%s" % i)
         i = i + 1
@@ -1790,10 +1790,10 @@ if _lib is None:
     print("    builtins.Z3_LIB_DIRS = [ '/path/to/libz3.%s' ] " % _ext)
   raise Z3Exception("libz3.%s not found." % _ext)
 
-def _to_ascii(s):
+def _str_to_bytes(s):
   if isinstance(s, str):
     try: 
-      return s.encode('ascii')
+      return s.encode('latin-1')
     except:
       # kick the bucket down the road.  :-J
       return s
@@ -1808,7 +1808,7 @@ else:
      if s != None:
         enc = sys.stdout.encoding
         if enc != None: return s.decode(enc)
-        else: return s.decode('ascii')
+        else: return s.decode('latin-1')
      else:
         return ""
 
diff --git a/src/api/python/z3/z3.py b/src/api/python/z3/z3.py
index 4c143f3ff..4b9b4f1c1 100644
--- a/src/api/python/z3/z3.py
+++ b/src/api/python/z3/z3.py
@@ -10038,7 +10038,7 @@ class SeqRef(ExprRef):
         if self.is_string_value():
             string_length = ctypes.c_uint()
             chars = Z3_get_lstring(self.ctx_ref(), self.as_ast(), byref(string_length))
-            return string_at(chars, size=string_length.value).decode('ascii')
+            return string_at(chars, size=string_length.value).decode('latin-1')
         return Z3_ast_to_string(self.ctx_ref(), self.as_ast())
 
     def __le__(self, other):