diff --git a/gluon/globals.py b/gluon/globals.py
index 25727560..6d090dd2 100644
--- a/gluon/globals.py
+++ b/gluon/globals.py
@@ -453,9 +453,9 @@ class Response(Storage):
         for meta in iteritems((self.meta or {})):
             k, v = meta
             if isinstance(v, dict):
-                s += '<meta' + ''.join(' %s="%s"' % (xmlescape(key), xmlescape(v[key])) for key in v) +' />\n'
+                s += '<meta' + ''.join(' %s="%s"' % (xmlescape(key), to_native(xmlescape(v[key]))) for key in v) +' />\n'
             else:
-                s += '<meta name="%s" content="%s" />\n' % (k, xmlescape(v))
+                s += '<meta name="%s" content="%s" />\n' % (k, to_native(xmlescape(v)))
         self.write(s, escape=False)
 
     def include_files(self, extensions=None):
diff --git a/gluon/sqlhtml.py b/gluon/sqlhtml.py
index 6bf336b4..c0354508 100644
--- a/gluon/sqlhtml.py
+++ b/gluon/sqlhtml.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ import urllib
 import re
 
 import os
-from gluon._compat import StringIO, unichr, urllib_quote, iteritems, basestring, long, unicodeT
+from gluon._compat import StringIO, unichr, urllib_quote, iteritems, basestring, long, unicodeT, to_native
 from gluon.http import HTTP, redirect
 from gluon.html import XmlComponent, truncate_string
 from gluon.html import XML, SPAN, TAG, A, DIV, CAT, UL, LI, TEXTAREA, BR, IMG
@@ -1395,8 +1395,8 @@ class SQLFORM(FORM):
                 self['hidden']['id'] = record[table._id.name]
 
         (begin, end) = self._xml()
-        self.custom.begin = XML("<%s %s>" % (self.tag, begin))
-        self.custom.end = XML("%s</%s>" % (end, self.tag))
+        self.custom.begin = XML("<%s %s>" % (self.tag, to_native(begin)))
+        self.custom.end = XML("%s</%s>" % (to_native(end), self.tag))
         table = self.createform(xfields)
         self.components = [table]