diff --git a/gluon/custom_import.py b/gluon/custom_import.py
index 8e848626..ef6c7ab2 100644
--- a/gluon/custom_import.py
+++ b/gluon/custom_import.py
@@ -62,6 +62,9 @@ def custom_importer(name, globals=None, locals=None, fromlist=None, level=-1):
     except:  # there is no current.request (should never happen)
         base_importer = NATIVE_IMPORTER
 
+    if not(PY2) and level < 0:
+        level = 0
+
     # if not relative and not from applications:
     if hasattr(current, 'request') \
             and level <= 0 \
@@ -104,9 +107,6 @@ def custom_importer(name, globals=None, locals=None, fromlist=None, level=-1):
         finally:
             if import_tb:
                 import_tb = None
-    elif not(PY2) and level < 0:
-        # FIXME PY3 why level is < 0?
-        level = 0
 
     return NATIVE_IMPORTER(name, globals, locals, fromlist, level)
 
diff --git a/gluon/globals.py b/gluon/globals.py
index 2cd7ddcf..ae8b2ac2 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 edadb7c2..701b9872 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]