diff --git a/phpseclib/Net/SSH2.php b/phpseclib/Net/SSH2.php
index 961545c2..8dd6a1f6 100644
--- a/phpseclib/Net/SSH2.php
+++ b/phpseclib/Net/SSH2.php
@@ -1338,10 +1338,9 @@ class Net_SSH2 {
             return $this->_privatekey_login($username, $password);
         }
 
-        $utf8_password = utf8_encode($password);
         $packet = pack('CNa*Na*Na*CNa*',
             NET_SSH2_MSG_USERAUTH_REQUEST, strlen($username), $username, strlen('ssh-connection'), 'ssh-connection',
-            strlen('password'), 'password', 0, strlen($utf8_password), $utf8_password
+            strlen('password'), 'password', 0, strlen($password), $password
         );
 
         if (!$this->_send_binary_packet($packet)) {