diff --git a/cgi-bin/core/doctype/sandbox/sandbox.txt b/cgi-bin/core/doctype/sandbox/sandbox.txt
index cae1065f59..c0dd5a3a94 100644
--- a/cgi-bin/core/doctype/sandbox/sandbox.txt
+++ b/cgi-bin/core/doctype/sandbox/sandbox.txt
@@ -76,7 +76,18 @@
 		'fieldname': 'test_link',
 		'fieldtype': 'Link',
 		'idx': 2,
-		'label': 'Test Link'
+		'label': 'Test Link',
+		'options': 'Profile'
+	},
+
+	# DocField
+	{
+		'doctype': 'DocField',
+		'fieldname': 'test_select',
+		'fieldtype': 'Select',
+		'idx': 2,
+		'label': 'Test Select',
+		'options': 'A\nB\nC'
 	},
 
 	# DocField
diff --git a/cgi-bin/webnotes/__init__.py b/cgi-bin/webnotes/__init__.py
index 6b77d0c7d3..06833e2e77 100644
--- a/cgi-bin/webnotes/__init__.py
+++ b/cgi-bin/webnotes/__init__.py
@@ -57,6 +57,8 @@ cookies = {}
 auto_masters = {}
 tenant_id = None
 
+from webnotes.utils import cstr
+
 #
 # Custom Class (no traceback)
 #
@@ -90,13 +92,13 @@ def errprint(msg):
 	"""
 	   Append to the :data:`debug log`
 	"""
-	debug_log.append(str(msg or ''))
+	debug_log.append(cstr(msg or ''))
 
 def msgprint(msg, small=0, raise_exception=0):
 	"""
 	   Append to the :data:`message_log`
 	"""	
-	message_log.append((small and '__small:' or '')+str(msg or ''))
+	message_log.append((small and '__small:' or '')+cstr(msg or ''))
 	if raise_exception:
 		raise ValidationError
 
diff --git a/cgi-bin/webnotes/utils/__init__.py b/cgi-bin/webnotes/utils/__init__.py
index e770963a7c..5ee963863f 100644
--- a/cgi-bin/webnotes/utils/__init__.py
+++ b/cgi-bin/webnotes/utils/__init__.py
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@ def cstr(s):
 				s = s.encode('utf-8', 'ignore')
 			except:
 				pass
-		return str(s)
+		return unicode(s)
 
 def str_esc_quote(s):
 	"""