diff --git a/client/solo/commands/command.py b/client/solo/commands/command.py
index ca82c576a..c69095031 100644
--- a/client/solo/commands/command.py
+++ b/client/solo/commands/command.py
@@ -14,7 +14,8 @@ import sys
 import argparse
 
 from entropy.i18n import _
-from entropy.const import const_convert_to_unicode
+from entropy.const import const_convert_to_unicode, \
+    const_convert_to_rawstring
 from entropy.output import darkgreen, teal, purple, print_error, bold, \
     brown
 from entropy.exceptions import PermissionDenied
@@ -68,6 +69,10 @@ class SoloCommand(object):
             # cope with broken symlinks
             return string
         msg = "%s: %s" % (_("not a valid directory"), string)
+
+        # see bug 3873, requires raw string
+        msg = const_convert_to_rawstring(
+            msg, from_enctype="utf-8")
         raise argparse.ArgumentTypeError(msg)
 
     def _argparse_is_valid_entropy_package(self, string):
diff --git a/client/solo/commands/pkg.py b/client/solo/commands/pkg.py
index 56ffbb325..8d8a19f4d 100644
--- a/client/solo/commands/pkg.py
+++ b/client/solo/commands/pkg.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ import tempfile
 import shutil
 
 from entropy.const import etpConst, const_setup_directory, \
-    const_convert_to_unicode
+    const_convert_to_unicode, const_convert_to_rawstring
 from entropy.i18n import _
 from entropy.output import darkgreen, teal, brown, purple, darkred, blue
 
@@ -81,9 +81,12 @@ Execute advanced tasks on Entropy packages and the running system.
         def _argparse_easygoing_valid_entropy_path(string):
             if os.path.isfile(string) and os.path.exists(string):
                 return string
+            # see bug 3873, requires raw string
             msg = "%s: %s" % (
                 _("not a valid Entropy package file"),
                 string)
+            msg = const_convert_to_rawstring(
+                msg, from_enctype="utf-8")
             raise argparse.ArgumentTypeError(msg)
 
         quickpkg_parser = subparsers.add_parser(