diff --git a/pillarsdk/utils.py b/pillarsdk/utils.py
index 8e59c52..d7d36a9 100644
--- a/pillarsdk/utils.py
+++ b/pillarsdk/utils.py
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
+import json
 import re
+import six
 from datetime import datetime
 
 try:
@@ -13,8 +15,8 @@ def join_url(url, *paths):
 
     Usage::
 
-        >>> utils.join_url("pillar:5000", "shots")
-        pillar:5000/shots
+        >>> join_url("pillar:5000", "shots")
+        'pillar:5000/shots'
     """
     for path in paths:
         url = re.sub(r'/?$', re.sub(r'^/?', '/', path), url)
@@ -26,10 +28,25 @@ def join_url_params(url, params):
 
     Usage::
 
-        >>> utils.join_url_params("pillar:5000/shots", {"page-id": 2, "NodeType": "Shot Group"})
-        pillar:5000/shots?page-id=2&NodeType=Shot+Group
+        >>> join_url_params("pillar:5000/shots", {"page-id": 2, "NodeType": "Shot Group"})
+        'pillar:5000/shots?page-id=2&NodeType=Shot+Group'
     """
-    return url + "?" + urlencode(params)
+
+    if params is None:
+        return url
+
+    def convert_to_string(param):
+        if isinstance(param, dict):
+            return json.dumps(param)
+        if isinstance(param, six.text_type):
+            return param.encode('utf-8')
+        return param
+
+    jsonified_params = {
+        key: convert_to_string(param)
+        for key, param in params.items()
+    }
+    return url + "?" + urlencode(jsonified_params)
 
 
 def merge_dict(data, *override):
@@ -38,8 +55,9 @@ def merge_dict(data, *override):
 
     Usage::
 
-        >>> utils.merge_dict({"foo": "bar"}, {1: 2}, {"foo1": "bar2"})
-        {1: 2, 'foo': 'bar', 'foo1': 'bar2'}
+        >>> md = merge_dict({"foo": "bar"}, {1: 2}, {"foo1": "bar2"})
+        >>> md == {1: 2, 'foo': 'bar', 'foo1': 'bar2'}
+        True
     """
     result = {}
     for current_dict in (data,) + override:
diff --git a/tests/test_utils.py b/tests/test_utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5c496c2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+# -*- encoding: utf-8 -*-
+
+import unittest
+
+try:
+    from urllib.parse import quote_plus
+except ImportError:
+    # Python 2
+    from urllib import quote_plus
+
+from pillarsdk import utils
+
+
+class PillarUtilsTests(unittest.TestCase):
+
+    def test_join_url_params(self):
+        """Test that strings and dicts work as parameters."""
+
+        # Test empty and None parameters
+        self.assertEqual('?', utils.join_url_params('', {}))
+        self.assertEqual('url', utils.join_url_params('url', None))
+
+        # Test simple string values
+        self.assertEqual('url?param=simple_param', utils.join_url_params('url', {'param': 'simple_param'}))
+        self.assertEqual('url?param=space+param', utils.join_url_params('url', {'param': 'space param'}))
+
+        # Test dictionary
+        self.assertEqual('url?dict=' + quote_plus('{"key": "value"}'),
+                         utils.join_url_params('url', {'dict': {'key': 'value'}}))
+
+        # Test nested dictionary
+        self.assertEqual('url?dict=' + quote_plus('{"key": {"subkey": "subvalue"}}'),
+                         utils.join_url_params('url', {'dict': {'key': {'subkey': 'subvalue'}}}))
+
+    def test_join_url_params_encoding(self):
+        """Test that unicode objects in the query parameters are properly UTF-8 encoded."""
+
+        # Test simple unicode string
+        self.assertEqual('url?param=St%C3%BCvel', utils.join_url_params('url', {'param': u'Stüvel'}))
+
+        # Test unicode value in string
+        self.assertEqual('url?dict=' + quote_plus(r'{"food": "\u0e1c\u0e31\u0e14\u0e44\u0e17\u0e22"}'),
+                         utils.join_url_params('url', {'dict': {'food': 'ผัดไทย'}}))