diff --git a/conductor/commands/cloud_formation.py b/conductor/commands/cloud_formation.py
index 23cddab..2aba89b 100644
--- a/conductor/commands/cloud_formation.py
+++ b/conductor/commands/cloud_formation.py
@@ -59,8 +59,8 @@ class HeatExecutor(CommandBase):
         if command == 'CreateOrUpdate':
             return self._execute_create_update(
                 kwargs['template'],
-                kwargs.get('mappings') or {},
-                kwargs.get('arguments') or {},
+                conductor.helpers.str2unicode(kwargs.get('mappings') or {}),
+                conductor.helpers.str2unicode(kwargs.get('arguments') or {}),
                 callback)
         elif command == 'Delete':
             return self._execute_delete(callback)
diff --git a/conductor/helpers.py b/conductor/helpers.py
index 0e0b7b9..b5cdc72 100644
--- a/conductor/helpers.py
+++ b/conductor/helpers.py
@@ -13,8 +13,8 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
-import types
 import deep
+import types
 
 
 def transform_json(json, mappings):
@@ -87,3 +87,16 @@ def find(f, seq):
             return item, index
         index += 1
     return None, -1
+
+
+def str2unicode(obj):
+    if isinstance(obj, str):
+        return unicode(obj)
+    elif isinstance(obj, types.DictionaryType):
+        result = {}
+        for key, value in obj.items():
+            result[str2unicode(key)] = str2unicode(value)
+        return result
+    elif isinstance(obj, types.ListType):
+        return [str2unicode(t) for t in obj]
+    return obj