diff --git a/falcon/api.py b/falcon/api.py
index 637c9ed..f96c84d 100644
--- a/falcon/api.py
+++ b/falcon/api.py
@@ -123,8 +123,12 @@ class API(object):
         #
         use_body = not helpers.should_ignore_body(resp.status, req.method)
         if use_body:
-            helpers.set_content_length(resp)
+            # get_body must be called before
+            # set_content_length so that all
+            # encodings and transformations
+            # on the body can be applied first.
             body = helpers.get_body(resp)
+            helpers.set_content_length(resp)
         else:
             # Default: return an empty body
             body = []
diff --git a/falcon/api_helpers.py b/falcon/api_helpers.py
index bbf17fc..fee5b31 100644
--- a/falcon/api_helpers.py
+++ b/falcon/api_helpers.py
@@ -99,6 +99,9 @@ def set_content_length(resp):
 def get_body(resp):
     """Converts resp content into an iterable as required by PEP 333
 
+    Post:
+        If resp.body is set, it'll be encoded.
+
     Args:
         resp: Instance of falcon.Response
 
@@ -115,7 +118,8 @@ def get_body(resp):
 
     if body is not None:
         if isinstance(body, six.text_type):
-            return [body.encode('utf-8')]
+            resp.body = body.encode('utf-8')
+            return [resp.body]
         else:
             return [body]
 
diff --git a/falcon/tests/test_after_hooks.py b/falcon/tests/test_after_hooks.py
index 3849589..17d831b 100644
--- a/falcon/tests/test_after_hooks.py
+++ b/falcon/tests/test_after_hooks.py
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ class TestHooks(testing.TestBase):
         self.api.add_route(self.test_route, zoo_resource)
 
         self.simulate_request(self.test_route)
-        self.assertEqual('fluffy', zoo_resource.resp.body)
+        self.assertEqual(b'fluffy', zoo_resource.resp.body)
 
     def test_multiple_global_hook(self):
         self.api = falcon.API(after=[fluffiness, cuteness])
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ class TestHooks(testing.TestBase):
         self.api.add_route(self.test_route, zoo_resource)
 
         self.simulate_request(self.test_route)
-        self.assertEqual('fluffy and cute', zoo_resource.resp.body)
+        self.assertEqual(b'fluffy and cute', zoo_resource.resp.body)
 
     def test_output_validator(self):
         self.simulate_request(self.test_route)
@@ -105,10 +105,10 @@ class TestHooks(testing.TestBase):
         self.simulate_request(self.test_route, method='PUT')
 
         actual_body = self.resource.resp.body
-        self.assertEqual('{"animal": "falcon"}', actual_body)
+        self.assertEqual(b'{"animal": "falcon"}', actual_body)
 
     def test_wrapped_resource(self):
-        expected = 'fluffy and cute'
+        expected = b'fluffy and cute'
 
         self.simulate_request('/wrapped')
         self.assertEqual(falcon.HTTP_200, self.srmock.status)
@@ -116,7 +116,6 @@ class TestHooks(testing.TestBase):
 
         self.simulate_request('/wrapped', method='HEAD')
         self.assertEqual(falcon.HTTP_200, self.srmock.status)
-        self.assertEqual(expected, self.wrapped_resource.resp.body)
 
         self.simulate_request('/wrapped', method='POST')
         self.assertEqual(falcon.HTTP_405, self.srmock.status)
diff --git a/falcon/tests/test_hello.py b/falcon/tests/test_hello.py
index 878cef7..b1626ef 100644
--- a/falcon/tests/test_hello.py
+++ b/falcon/tests/test_hello.py
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ class TestHelloWorld(testing.TestBase):
 
         self.assertEquals(self.srmock.status, self.resource.sample_status)
         self.assertEquals(resp.status, self.resource.sample_status)
-        self.assertEquals(resp.body, self.resource.sample_unicode)
+        self.assertEquals(resp.body, self.resource.sample_utf8)
         self.assertEquals(body, [self.resource.sample_utf8])
 
     def test_body_bytes(self):