diff --git a/addons/base_action_rule/base_action_rule.py b/addons/base_action_rule/base_action_rule.py
index 249fea89e0e..50ebd96a3c2 100644
--- a/addons/base_action_rule/base_action_rule.py
+++ b/addons/base_action_rule/base_action_rule.py
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ from tools.translate import _
 from datetime import datetime
 from datetime import timedelta
 from tools.safe_eval import safe_eval
+from tools import ustr
 import pooler
 import re
 import time
@@ -369,8 +370,8 @@ the rule to mark CC(mail to any other person defined in actions)."),
         reg_name = action.regex_name
         result_name = True
         if reg_name:
-            ptrn = re.compile(str(reg_name))
-            _result = ptrn.search(str(obj.name))
+            ptrn = re.compile(ustr(reg_name))
+            _result = ptrn.search(ustr(obj.name))
             if not _result:
                 result_name = False
         regex_n = not reg_name or result_name
diff --git a/addons/crm/crm_action_rule.py b/addons/crm/crm_action_rule.py
index 76876df81e7..ec489ff4d14 100644
--- a/addons/crm/crm_action_rule.py
+++ b/addons/crm/crm_action_rule.py
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import re
 import tools
 
 from tools.translate import _
+from tools import ustr
 from osv import fields
 from osv import osv
 
@@ -73,9 +74,9 @@ class base_action_rule(osv.osv):
         regex = action.regex_history
         if regex:
             res = False
-            ptrn = re.compile(str(regex))
+            ptrn = re.compile(ustr(regex))
             for history in obj.message_ids:
-                _result = ptrn.search(str(history.name))
+                _result = ptrn.search(ustr(history.subject))
                 if _result:
                     res = True
                     break