diff --git a/backends/libcommuni/ircnetworkplugin.cpp b/backends/libcommuni/ircnetworkplugin.cpp
index d7c9ae9e..6dacca20 100644
--- a/backends/libcommuni/ircnetworkplugin.cpp
+++ b/backends/libcommuni/ircnetworkplugin.cpp
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 IRCNetworkPlugin::IRCNetworkPlugin(Config *config, Swift::QtEventLoop *loop, const std::string &host, int port) {
 	this->config = config;
 	m_socket = new QTcpSocket();
-	m_socket->connectToHost(QString::fromStdString(host), port);
+	m_socket->connectToHost(QString::fromUtf8(host), port);
 	connect(m_socket, SIGNAL(readyRead()), this, SLOT(readData()));
 }
 
@@ -28,8 +28,8 @@ void IRCNetworkPlugin::handleLoginRequest(const std::string &user, const std::st
 	if (CONFIG_BOOL(config, "service.server_mode")) {
 		MyIrcSession *session = new MyIrcSession(user, this);
 		std::string h = user.substr(0, user.find("@"));
-		session->setNickName(QString::fromStdString(h.substr(0, h.find("%"))));
-		session->setHost(QString::fromStdString(h.substr(h.find("%") + 1)));
+		session->setNickName(QString::fromUtf8(h.substr(0, h.find("%"))));
+		session->setHost(QString::fromUtf8(h.substr(h.find("%") + 1)));
 		session->setPort(6667);
 		session->open();
 		std::cout << "CONNECTING IRC NETWORK " << h.substr(h.find("%") + 1) << "\n";
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ void IRCNetworkPlugin::handleMessageSendRequest(const std::string &user, const s
 		}
 	}
 	std::cout << "MESSAGE " << u << " " << r << "\n";
-	m_sessions[u]->sendCommand(IrcCommand::createMessage(QString::fromStdString(r), QString::fromStdString(message)));
+	m_sessions[u]->sendCommand(IrcCommand::createMessage(QString::fromUtf8(r), QString::fromUtf8(message)));
 	std::cout << "SENT\n";
 }
 
@@ -89,8 +89,8 @@ void IRCNetworkPlugin::handleJoinRoomRequest(const std::string &user, const std:
 		if (room.find("@") != std::string::npos) {
 			// suffix is %irc.freenode.net to let MyIrcSession return #room%irc.freenode.net
 			MyIrcSession *session = new MyIrcSession(user, this, room.substr(room.find("@")));
-			session->setNickName(QString::fromStdString(nickname));
-			session->setHost(QString::fromStdString(room.substr(room.find("@") + 1)));
+			session->setNickName(QString::fromUtf8(nickname));
+			session->setHost(QString::fromUtf8(room.substr(room.find("@") + 1)));
 			session->setPort(6667);
 			session->open();
 			std::cout << "CONNECTING IRC NETWORK " << room.substr(room.find("@") + 1) << "\n";
@@ -103,10 +103,10 @@ void IRCNetworkPlugin::handleJoinRoomRequest(const std::string &user, const std:
 	}
 	std::cout << "JOINING " << r << "\n";
 	m_sessions[u]->addAutoJoinChannel(r);
-	m_sessions[u]->sendCommand(IrcCommand::createJoin(QString::fromStdString(r), QString::fromStdString(password)));
+	m_sessions[u]->sendCommand(IrcCommand::createJoin(QString::fromUtf8(r), QString::fromUtf8(password)));
 	m_sessions[u]->rooms += 1;
 	// update nickname, because we have nickname per session, no nickname per room.
-	handleRoomNicknameChanged(user, r, m_sessions[u]->nickName().toStdString());
+	handleRoomNicknameChanged(user, r, m_sessions[u]->nickName().toUtf8());
 }
 
 void IRCNetworkPlugin::handleLeaveRoomRequest(const std::string &user, const std::string &room) {
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ void IRCNetworkPlugin::handleLeaveRoomRequest(const std::string &user, const std
 	if (m_sessions[u] == NULL)
 		return;
 
-	m_sessions[u]->sendCommand(IrcCommand::createPart(QString::fromStdString(r)));
+	m_sessions[u]->sendCommand(IrcCommand::createPart(QString::fromUtf8(r)));
 	m_sessions[u]->removeAutoJoinChannel(r);
 	m_sessions[u]->rooms -= 1;
 
diff --git a/backends/libcommuni/session.cpp b/backends/libcommuni/session.cpp
index ac972b5f..495bb25c 100644
--- a/backends/libcommuni/session.cpp
+++ b/backends/libcommuni/session.cpp
@@ -38,13 +38,13 @@ void MyIrcSession::on_connected() {
 	}
 
 	for(std::list<std::string>::const_iterator it = m_autoJoin.begin(); it != m_autoJoin.end(); it++) {
-		sendCommand(IrcCommand::createJoin(QString::fromStdString(*it)));
+		sendCommand(IrcCommand::createJoin(QString::fromUtf8(*it)));
 	}
 
 	if (getIdentify().find(" ") != std::string::npos) {
 		std::string to = getIdentify().substr(0, getIdentify().find(" "));
 		std::string what = getIdentify().substr(getIdentify().find(" ") + 1);
-		sendCommand(IrcCommand::createMessage(QString::fromStdString(to), QString::fromStdString(what)));
+		sendCommand(IrcCommand::createMessage(QString::fromUtf8(to), QString::fromUtf8(what)));
 	}
 }
 
@@ -67,30 +67,30 @@ bool MyIrcSession::correctNickname(std::string &nickname) {
 void MyIrcSession::on_joined(IrcMessage *message) {
 	IrcJoinMessage *m = (IrcJoinMessage *) message;
 	bool flags = 0;
-	std::string nickname = m->sender().name().toStdString();
+	std::string nickname = m->sender().name().toUtf8();
 	flags = correctNickname(nickname);
-	np->handleParticipantChanged(user, nickname, m->channel().toStdString() + suffix, (int) flags, pbnetwork::STATUS_ONLINE);
-	LOG4CXX_INFO(logger, user << ": Joined " << m->parameters()[0].toStdString());
+	np->handleParticipantChanged(user, nickname, m->channel().toUtf8() + suffix, (int) flags, pbnetwork::STATUS_ONLINE);
+	LOG4CXX_INFO(logger, user << ": Joined " << m->parameters()[0].toUtf8());
 }
 
 
 void MyIrcSession::on_parted(IrcMessage *message) {
 	IrcPartMessage *m = (IrcPartMessage *) message;
 	bool flags = 0;
-	std::string nickname = m->sender().name().toStdString();
+	std::string nickname = m->sender().name().toUtf8();
 	flags = correctNickname(nickname);
-	LOG4CXX_INFO(logger, user << ": " << nickname << " parted " << m->channel().toStdString() + suffix);
-	np->handleParticipantChanged(user, nickname, m->channel().toStdString() + suffix,(int) flags, pbnetwork::STATUS_NONE, m->reason().toStdString());
+	LOG4CXX_INFO(logger, user << ": " << nickname << " parted " << m->channel().toUtf8() + suffix);
+	np->handleParticipantChanged(user, nickname, m->channel().toUtf8() + suffix,(int) flags, pbnetwork::STATUS_NONE, m->reason().toUtf8());
 }
 
 void MyIrcSession::on_quit(IrcMessage *message) {
 	IrcQuitMessage *m = (IrcQuitMessage *) message;
 	for(std::list<std::string>::const_iterator it = m_autoJoin.begin(); it != m_autoJoin.end(); it++) {
 		bool flags = 0;
-		std::string nickname = m->sender().name().toStdString();
+		std::string nickname = m->sender().name().toUtf8();
 		flags = correctNickname(nickname);
 		LOG4CXX_INFO(logger, user << ": " << nickname << " quit " << (*it) + suffix);
-		np->handleParticipantChanged(user, nickname, (*it) + suffix,(int) flags, pbnetwork::STATUS_NONE, m->reason().toStdString());
+		np->handleParticipantChanged(user, nickname, (*it) + suffix,(int) flags, pbnetwork::STATUS_NONE, m->reason().toUtf8());
 	}
 }
 
@@ -98,10 +98,10 @@ void MyIrcSession::on_nickChanged(IrcMessage *message) {
 	IrcNickMessage *m = (IrcNickMessage *) message;
 
 	for(std::list<std::string>::const_iterator it = m_autoJoin.begin(); it != m_autoJoin.end(); it++) {
-		std::string nickname = m->sender().name().toStdString();
+		std::string nickname = m->sender().name().toUtf8();
 		bool flags = m_modes[(*it) + nickname];
-		LOG4CXX_INFO(logger, user << ": " << nickname << " changed nickname to " << m->nick().toStdString());
-		np->handleParticipantChanged(user, nickname, (*it) + suffix,(int) flags, pbnetwork::STATUS_ONLINE, "", m->nick().toStdString());
+		LOG4CXX_INFO(logger, user << ": " << nickname << " changed nickname to " << m->nick().toUtf8());
+		np->handleParticipantChanged(user, nickname, (*it) + suffix,(int) flags, pbnetwork::STATUS_ONLINE, "", m->nick().toUtf8());
 	}
 }
 
@@ -109,8 +109,8 @@ void MyIrcSession::on_modeChanged(IrcMessage *message) {
 	IrcModeMessage *m = (IrcModeMessage *) message;
 
 	// mode changed: "#testik" "HanzZ" "+o" "hanzz_k"
-	std::string nickname = m->argument().toStdString();
-	std::string mode = m->mode().toStdString();
+	std::string nickname = m->argument().toUtf8();
+	std::string mode = m->mode().toUtf8();
 	if (nickname.empty())
 		return;
 	LOG4CXX_INFO(logger, user << ": " << nickname << " changed mode to " << mode);
@@ -130,29 +130,29 @@ void MyIrcSession::on_topicChanged(IrcMessage *message) {
 	IrcTopicMessage *m = (IrcTopicMessage *) message;
 
 	bool flags = 0;
-	std::string nickname = m->sender().name().toStdString();
+	std::string nickname = m->sender().name().toUtf8();
 	flags = correctNickname(nickname);
 
-	LOG4CXX_INFO(logger, user << ": " << nickname << " topic changed to " << m->topic().toStdString());
-	np->handleSubject(user, m->channel().toStdString() + suffix, m->topic().toStdString(), nickname);
+	LOG4CXX_INFO(logger, user << ": " << nickname << " topic changed to " << m->topic().toUtf8());
+	np->handleSubject(user, m->channel().toUtf8() + suffix, m->topic().toUtf8(), nickname);
 }
 
 void MyIrcSession::on_messageReceived(IrcMessage *message) {
 	IrcPrivateMessage *m = (IrcPrivateMessage *) message;
 
-	std::string target = m->target().toStdString();
+	std::string target = m->target().toUtf8();
 	LOG4CXX_INFO(logger, user << ": Message from " << target);
 	if (target.find("#") == 0) {
 		bool flags = 0;
-		std::string nickname = m->sender().name().toStdString();
+		std::string nickname = m->sender().name().toUtf8();
 		flags = correctNickname(nickname);
-		np->handleMessage(user, target + suffix, m->message().toStdString(), nickname);
+		np->handleMessage(user, target + suffix, m->message().toUtf8(), nickname);
 	}
 	else {
 		bool flags = 0;
-		std::string nickname = m->sender().name().toStdString();
+		std::string nickname = m->sender().name().toUtf8();
 		flags = correctNickname(nickname);
-		np->handleMessage(user, nickname, m->message().toStdString());
+		np->handleMessage(user, nickname, m->message().toUtf8());
 	}
 }
 
@@ -163,10 +163,10 @@ void MyIrcSession::on_numericMessageReceived(IrcMessage *message) {
 	IrcNumericMessage *m = (IrcNumericMessage *) message;
 	switch (m->code()) {
 		case 332:
-			m_topicData = m->parameters().value(2).toStdString();
+			m_topicData = m->parameters().value(2).toUtf8();
 			break;
 		case 333:
-			 np->handleSubject(user, m->parameters().value(1).toStdString() + suffix, m_topicData, m->parameters().value(2).toStdString());
+			 np->handleSubject(user, m->parameters().value(1).toUtf8() + suffix, m_topicData, m->parameters().value(2).toUtf8());
 			break;
 		case 353:
 			channel = m->parameters().value(2);
@@ -174,10 +174,10 @@ void MyIrcSession::on_numericMessageReceived(IrcMessage *message) {
 
 			for (int i = 0; i < members.size(); i++) {
 				bool flags = 0;
-				std::string nickname = members.at(i).toStdString();
+				std::string nickname = members.at(i).toUtf8();
 				flags = correctNickname(nickname);
-				m_modes[channel.toStdString() + nickname] = flags;
-				np->handleParticipantChanged(user, nickname, channel.toStdString() + suffix,(int) flags, pbnetwork::STATUS_ONLINE);
+				m_modes[channel.toUtf8() + nickname] = flags;
+				np->handleParticipantChanged(user, nickname, channel.toUtf8() + suffix,(int) flags, pbnetwork::STATUS_ONLINE);
 			}
 			break;
 		case 432:
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ void MyIrcSession::on_numericMessageReceived(IrcMessage *message) {
 }
 
 void MyIrcSession::onMessageReceived(IrcMessage *message) {
-	LOG4CXX_INFO(logger, user << ": " << message->toString().toStdString());
+	LOG4CXX_INFO(logger, user << ": " << message->toString().toUtf8());
 	switch (message->type()) {
 		case IrcMessage::Join:
 			on_joined(message);
diff --git a/backends/libcommuni/singleircnetworkplugin.cpp b/backends/libcommuni/singleircnetworkplugin.cpp
index 547e4b66..c36d851a 100644
--- a/backends/libcommuni/singleircnetworkplugin.cpp
+++ b/backends/libcommuni/singleircnetworkplugin.cpp
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ void SingleIRCNetworkPlugin::handleMessageSendRequest(const std::string &user, c
 	m_sessions[user]->sendCommand(IrcCommand::createMessage(QString::fromUtf8(r), QString::fromUtf8(message)));
 
 	if (r.find("#") == 0) {
-		handleMessage(user, legacyName, message, m_sessions[user]->nickName().toStdString());
+		handleMessage(user, legacyName, message, m_sessions[user]->nickName().toUtf8());
 	}
 }
 
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ void SingleIRCNetworkPlugin::handleJoinRoomRequest(const std::string &user, cons
 	m_sessions[user]->rooms += 1;
 
 	// update nickname, because we have nickname per session, no nickname per room.
-	handleRoomNicknameChanged(user, room, m_sessions[user]->userName().toStdString());
+	handleRoomNicknameChanged(user, room, m_sessions[user]->userName().toUtf8());
 }
 
 void SingleIRCNetworkPlugin::handleLeaveRoomRequest(const std::string &user, const std::string &room) {