diff --git a/ceilometer/api/controllers/v2.py b/ceilometer/api/controllers/v2.py
index dae14b8d8..e2fc4137d 100644
--- a/ceilometer/api/controllers/v2.py
+++ b/ceilometer/api/controllers/v2.py
@@ -972,8 +972,10 @@ class Meter(_Base):
     "The unique identifier for the meter"
 
     def __init__(self, **kwargs):
-        meter_id = base64.encodestring('%s+%s' % (kwargs['resource_id'],
-                                                  kwargs['name']))
+        meter_id = '%s+%s' % (kwargs['resource_id'], kwargs['name'])
+        # meter_id is of type Unicode but base64.encodestring() only accepts
+        # strings. See bug #1333177
+        meter_id = base64.encodestring(meter_id.encode('utf-8'))
         kwargs['meter_id'] = meter_id
         super(Meter, self).__init__(**kwargs)
 
diff --git a/ceilometer/tests/api/v2/test_list_meters_scenarios.py b/ceilometer/tests/api/v2/test_list_meters_scenarios.py
index c7a8bc419..68735c90e 100644
--- a/ceilometer/tests/api/v2/test_list_meters_scenarios.py
+++ b/ceilometer/tests/api/v2/test_list_meters_scenarios.py
@@ -163,6 +163,17 @@ class TestListMeters(v2.FunctionalTest,
                                        'size': 0,
                                        'util': 0.58,
                                        'is_public': True},
+                    source='test_source1'),
+                sample.Sample(
+                    u'meter.accent\xe9\u0437',
+                    'gauge',
+                    '',
+                    1,
+                    'user-id4',
+                    'project-id2',
+                    'resource-id4',
+                    timestamp=datetime.datetime(2014, 7, 2, 10, 43),
+                    resource_metadata={},
                     source='test_source1')]:
             msg = utils.meter_message_from_counter(
                 cnt,
@@ -172,13 +183,14 @@ class TestListMeters(v2.FunctionalTest,
 
     def test_list_meters(self):
         data = self.get_json('/meters')
-        self.assertEqual(5, len(data))
+        self.assertEqual(6, len(data))
         self.assertEqual(set(['resource-id',
                               'resource-id2',
                               'resource-id3',
                               'resource-id4']),
                          set(r['resource_id'] for r in data))
-        self.assertEqual(set(['meter.test', 'meter.mine', 'meter.test.new']),
+        self.assertEqual(set(['meter.test', 'meter.mine', 'meter.test.new',
+                              u'meter.accent\xe9\u0437']),
                          set(r['name'] for r in data))
         self.assertEqual(set(['test_source', 'test_source1']),
                          set(r['source'] for r in data))
@@ -199,7 +211,7 @@ class TestListMeters(v2.FunctionalTest,
 
     def test_list_samples(self):
         data = self.get_json('/samples')
-        self.assertEqual(6, len(data))
+        self.assertEqual(7, len(data))
 
     def test_query_samples_with_invalid_field_name_and_non_eq_operator(self):
         resp = self.get_json('/samples',
@@ -484,7 +496,7 @@ class TestListMeters(v2.FunctionalTest,
                                             'value': 'test_source1',
                                             }])
         nids = set(r['name'] for r in data)
-        self.assertEqual(set(['meter.mine']), nids)
+        self.assertEqual(set(['meter.mine', u'meter.accent\xe9\u0437']), nids)
 
         sids = set(r['source'] for r in data)
         self.assertEqual(set(['test_source1']), sids)
@@ -654,6 +666,6 @@ class TestListMeters(v2.FunctionalTest,
     def test_list_meters_meter_id(self):
         data = self.get_json('/meters')
         for i in data:
-            expected = base64.encodestring('%s+%s' % (i['resource_id'],
-                                                      i['name']))
+            meter_id = '%s+%s' % (i['resource_id'], i['name'])
+            expected = base64.encodestring(meter_id.encode('utf-8'))
             self.assertEqual(expected, i['meter_id'])