diff --git a/projects/samskivert/src/java/com/samskivert/velocity/StringTool.java b/projects/samskivert/src/java/com/samskivert/velocity/StringTool.java
index 93a81ba4..9f18dfc3 100644
--- a/projects/samskivert/src/java/com/samskivert/velocity/StringTool.java
+++ b/projects/samskivert/src/java/com/samskivert/velocity/StringTool.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 //
-// $Id: StringTool.java,v 1.9 2003/10/06 22:49:57 ray Exp $
+// $Id: StringTool.java,v 1.10 2003/10/08 00:35:57 ray Exp $
 //
 // samskivert library - useful routines for java programs
 // Copyright (C) 2001 Michael Bayne
@@ -44,7 +44,12 @@ public class StringTool
      */
     public static String urlEncode (String text)
     {
-        return URLEncoder.encode(text);
+        try {
+            return URLEncoder.encode(text, "UTF-8");
+        } catch (java.io.UnsupportedEncodingException uee) {
+            // won't happen
+            return text;
+        }
     }
 
     /**