diff --git a/tdeui/kpassdlg.cpp b/tdeui/kpassdlg.cpp
index 87df72f60..8e0e12f18 100644
--- a/tdeui/kpassdlg.cpp
+++ b/tdeui/kpassdlg.cpp
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
 #include <tqwhatsthis.h>
 #include <tqptrdict.h>
 #include <tqtimer.h>
+#include <tqtextcodec.h>
 
 #include <tdeglobal.h>
 #include <kdebug.h>
@@ -139,7 +140,11 @@ KPasswordEdit::~KPasswordEdit()
 }
 
 const char *KPasswordEdit::password() const {
-    return text().ascii();
+    TQTextCodec *origCStringCodec = TQTextCodec::codecForCStrings();
+    TQTextCodec::setCodecForCStrings(TQTextCodec::codecForLocale());
+    const char *outputPassword = text().ascii();
+    TQTextCodec::setCodecForCStrings(origCStringCodec);
+    return outputPassword;
 }
 
 void KPasswordEdit::erase()