diff --git a/Lib/distutils/command/register.py b/Lib/distutils/command/register.py
index bf7be96..f531d0f 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/command/register.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/command/register.py
@@ -261,7 +261,6 @@
             if type(value) not in (type([]), type( () )):
                 value = [value]
             for value in value:
-                value = unicode(value).encode("utf-8")
                 body.write(sep_boundary)
                 body.write('\nContent-Disposition: form-data; name="%s"'%key)
                 body.write("\n\n")
diff --git a/Lib/distutils/command/upload.py b/Lib/distutils/command/upload.py
index 9f1aae6..93727ae 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/command/upload.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/command/upload.py
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@
                     value = value[1]
                 else:
                     fn = ""
-                value = str(value)
+
                 body.write(sep_boundary)
                 body.write('\nContent-Disposition: form-data; name="%s"'%key)
                 body.write(fn)
diff --git a/Lib/distutils/dist.py b/Lib/distutils/dist.py
index c15ca97..30260f3 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/dist.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/dist.py
@@ -1114,18 +1114,20 @@
         self._write_list(file, 'Obsoletes', self.get_obsoletes())
 
     def _write_field(self, file, name, value):
-
-        if isinstance(value, unicode):
-            value = value.encode(PKG_INFO_ENCODING)
-        else:
-            value = str(value)
-        file.write('%s: %s\n' % (name, value))
+        file.write('%s: %s\n' % (name, self._encode_field(value)))
 
     def _write_list (self, file, name, values):
 
         for value in values:
             self._write_field(file, name, value)
 
+    def _encode_field(self, value):
+        if value is None:
+            return None
+        if isinstance(value, unicode):
+            return value.encode(PKG_INFO_ENCODING)
+        return str(value)
+
     # -- Metadata query methods ----------------------------------------
 
     def get_name (self):
@@ -1138,21 +1140,20 @@
         return "%s-%s" % (self.get_name(), self.get_version())
 
     def get_author(self):
-        return self.author or "UNKNOWN"
+        return self._encode_field(self.author) or "UNKNOWN"
 
     def get_author_email(self):
         return self.author_email or "UNKNOWN"
 
     def get_maintainer(self):
-        return self.maintainer or "UNKNOWN"
+        return self._encode_field(self.maintainer) or "UNKNOWN"
 
     def get_maintainer_email(self):
         return self.maintainer_email or "UNKNOWN"
 
     def get_contact(self):
-        return (self.maintainer or
-                self.author or
-                "UNKNOWN")
+        return (self._encode_field(self.maintainer) or
+                self._encode_field(self.author) or "UNKNOWN")
 
     def get_contact_email(self):
         return (self.maintainer_email or
@@ -1167,10 +1168,10 @@
     get_licence = get_license
 
     def get_description(self):
-        return self.description or "UNKNOWN"
+        return self._encode_field(self.description) or "UNKNOWN"
 
     def get_long_description(self):
-        return self.long_description or "UNKNOWN"
+        return self._encode_field(self.long_description) or "UNKNOWN"
 
     def get_keywords(self):
         return self.keywords or []
diff --git a/Lib/distutils/tests/test_upload.py b/Lib/distutils/tests/test_upload.py
index 322beb7..382697f 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/tests/test_upload.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/tests/test_upload.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 """Tests for distutils.command.upload."""
+# -*- encoding: utf8 -*-
 import sys
 import os
 import unittest
@@ -95,7 +96,7 @@
         self.write_file(self.rc, PYPIRC_LONG_PASSWORD)
 
         # lets run it
-        pkg_dir, dist = self.create_dist(dist_files=dist_files)
+        pkg_dir, dist = self.create_dist(dist_files=dist_files, author=u'dédé')
         cmd = upload(dist)
         cmd.ensure_finalized()
         cmd.run()
@@ -104,7 +105,8 @@
         res = _CONNECTIONS[-1]
 
         headers = res.headers
-        self.assertEquals(headers['Content-length'], '2086')
+        self.assert_('dédé' in res.body)
+        self.assertEquals(headers['Content-length'], '2085')
         self.assertTrue(headers['Content-type'].startswith('multipart/form-data'))
 
         method, request = res.requests[-1]