diff --git a/pwndbg/color/__init__.py b/pwndbg/color/__init__.py
index c2dc12315..e9a31d275 100644
--- a/pwndbg/color/__init__.py
+++ b/pwndbg/color/__init__.py
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
 import re
 
+import six
+
 import pwndbg.memoize
 
 NORMAL         = "\x1b[0m"
@@ -72,9 +74,17 @@ def terminateWith(x, color):
     return re.sub('\x1b\\[0m', NORMAL + color, x)
 
 def ljust_colored(x, length, char=' '):
+    # TODO: workaround until issue #404
+    if six.PY2:
+        x = x if isinstance(x, six.text_type) else x.decode('utf8')
+        char = char if isinstance(char, six.text_type) else char.decode('utf8')
     remaining = length - len(strip(x))
     return x + ((remaining // len(char) + 1) * char)[:remaining]
 
 def rjust_colored(x, length, char=' '):
+    # TODO: workaround until issue #404
+    if six.PY2:
+        x = x if isinstance(x, six.text_type) else x.decode('utf8')
+        char = char if isinstance(char, six.text_type) else char.decode('utf8')
     remaining = length - len(strip(x))
     return ((remaining // len(char) + 1) * char)[:remaining] + x