diff --git a/src/pyfroniusreg/froniusreg.py b/src/pyfroniusreg/froniusreg.py
index c0d995b..70ac538 100644
--- a/src/pyfroniusreg/froniusreg.py
+++ b/src/pyfroniusreg/froniusreg.py
@@ -30,17 +30,23 @@ class DataType():
 
 # helper functions for DataType constructors
 def decode_string8(decoder):
-    return str(decoder.decode_string(8).decode('utf-8'))
+    try:
+        return str(decoder.decode_string(8).decode('utf-8'))
+    except UnicodeDecodeError:
+        return decoder.decode_string(8)
 
 def decode_string16(decoder):
     try:
         return str(decoder.decode_string(16).decode('utf-8'))
     except UnicodeDecodeError:
-        return str(decoder.decode_string(16))
+        return decoder.decode_string(16)
     
 def decode_string32(decoder):
-    return str(decoder.decode_string(32).decode('utf-8'))
-
+    try:
+        return str(decoder.decode_string(32).decode('utf-8'))
+    except UnicodeDecodeError:
+        return decoder.decode_string(32)
+    
 def encode_16bit_int(encoder, value):
     return encoder.add_16bit_int(int(value))