diff --git a/awx/main/models/jobs.py b/awx/main/models/jobs.py
index 2251332257..e01e08b21b 100644
--- a/awx/main/models/jobs.py
+++ b/awx/main/models/jobs.py
@@ -714,10 +714,10 @@ class Job(UnifiedJob, JobOptions, SurveyJobMixin, JobNotificationMixin, TaskMana
         return '{}'.format(self.inventory.id)
 
     def memcached_fact_host_key(self, host_name):
-        return '{}-{}'.format(self.inventory.id, base64.b64encode(host_name))
+        return '{}-{}'.format(self.inventory.id, base64.b64encode(host_name.encode('utf-8')))
 
     def memcached_fact_modified_key(self, host_name):
-        return '{}-{}-modified'.format(self.inventory.id, base64.b64encode(host_name))
+        return '{}-{}-modified'.format(self.inventory.id, base64.b64encode(host_name.encode('utf-8')))
 
     def _get_inventory_hosts(self, only=['name', 'ansible_facts', 'modified',]):
         return self.inventory.hosts.only(*only)
diff --git a/awx/main/tests/unit/models/test_jobs.py b/awx/main/tests/unit/models/test_jobs.py
index 0e9113cf7a..e60b775066 100644
--- a/awx/main/tests/unit/models/test_jobs.py
+++ b/awx/main/tests/unit/models/test_jobs.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+
 import pytest
 
 from awx.main.models import (
@@ -111,6 +113,18 @@ def test_start_job_fact_cache_existing_host(hosts, hosts2, job, job2, inventory,
     assert ansible_facts_cached == json.dumps(hosts[1].ansible_facts)
 
 
+def test_memcached_fact_host_key_unicode(job):
+    host_name = u'Iñtërnâtiônàlizætiøn'
+    host_key = job.memcached_fact_host_key(host_name)
+    assert host_key == '5-ScOxdMOrcm7DonRpw7Ruw6BsaXrDpnRpw7hu'
+
+
+def test_memcached_fact_modified_key_unicode(job):
+    host_name = u'Iñtërnâtiônàlizætiøn'
+    host_key = job.memcached_fact_modified_key(host_name)
+    assert host_key == '5-ScOxdMOrcm7DonRpw7Ruw6BsaXrDpnRpw7hu-modified'
+
+
 def test_finish_job_fact_cache(job, hosts, inventory, mocker, new_time):
 
     job.start_job_fact_cache()
diff --git a/awx/plugins/fact_caching/tower.py b/awx/plugins/fact_caching/tower.py
index 86624f75da..8267a0d498 100755
--- a/awx/plugins/fact_caching/tower.py
+++ b/awx/plugins/fact_caching/tower.py
@@ -57,10 +57,10 @@ class CacheModule(BaseCacheModule):
         return '{}'.format(self._inventory_id)
 
     def translate_host_key(self, host_name):
-        return '{}-{}'.format(self._inventory_id, base64.b64encode(host_name))
+        return '{}-{}'.format(self._inventory_id, base64.b64encode(host_name.encode('utf-8')))
 
     def translate_modified_key(self, host_name):
-        return '{}-{}-modified'.format(self._inventory_id, base64.b64encode(host_name))
+        return '{}-{}-modified'.format(self._inventory_id, base64.b64encode(host_name.encode('utf-8')))
 
     def get(self, key):
         host_key = self.translate_host_key(key)