diff --git a/docs/index.rst b/docs/index.rst
index 4a2a5b941..9848b0680 100644
--- a/docs/index.rst
+++ b/docs/index.rst
@@ -681,12 +681,18 @@ Process class
 
      The process name. The return value is cached after first call.
 
+     *Changed in 3.2.0:* (Windows, Python 2) in case of non ASCII name the
+     returned type is unicode instead of str.
+
   .. method:: exe()
 
      The process executable as an absolute path.
      On some systems this may also be an empty string.
      The return value is cached after first call.
 
+     *Changed in 3.2.0:* (Windows, Python 2) in case of non ASCII path the
+     returned type is unicode instead of str.
+
   .. method:: cmdline()
 
      The command line this process has been called with.
diff --git a/psutil/__init__.py b/psutil/__init__.py
index 385b80a4a..166883620 100644
--- a/psutil/__init__.py
+++ b/psutil/__init__.py
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@
 ]
 __all__.extend(_psplatform.__extra__all__)
 __author__ = "Giampaolo Rodola'"
-__version__ = "3.1.2"
+__version__ = "3.2.0"
 version_info = tuple([int(num) for num in __version__.split('.')])
 AF_LINK = _psplatform.AF_LINK
 _TOTAL_PHYMEM = None
diff --git a/psutil/_pswindows.py b/psutil/_pswindows.py
index 2d8babb19..ca48120f0 100644
--- a/psutil/_pswindows.py
+++ b/psutil/_pswindows.py
@@ -234,6 +234,16 @@ def users():
     return retlist
 
 
+def py2_stringify(s):
+    if PY3:
+        return s
+    else:
+        try:
+            return str(s)
+        except UnicodeEncodeError:
+            return s
+
+
 pids = cext.pids
 pid_exists = cext.pid_exists
 net_io_counters = cext.net_io_counters
@@ -287,9 +297,9 @@ def name(self):
             try:
                 # Note: this will fail with AD for most PIDs owned
                 # by another user but it's faster.
-                return os.path.basename(self.exe())
+                return py2_stringify(os.path.basename(self.exe()))
             except AccessDenied:
-                return cext.proc_name(self.pid)
+                return py2_stringify(cext.proc_name(self.pid))
 
     @wrap_exceptions
     def exe(self):
@@ -301,7 +311,7 @@ def exe(self):
         # see https://github.com/giampaolo/psutil/issues/528
         if self.pid in (0, 4):
             raise AccessDenied(self.pid, self._name)
-        return _convert_raw_path(cext.proc_exe(self.pid))
+        return py2_stringify(_convert_raw_path(cext.proc_exe(self.pid)))
 
     @wrap_exceptions
     def cmdline(self):
diff --git a/test/_windows.py b/test/_windows.py
index 93331789a..5d6fd366f 100644
--- a/test/_windows.py
+++ b/test/_windows.py
@@ -292,7 +292,7 @@ def test_name_always_available(self):
         for p in psutil.process_iter():
             try:
                 p.name()
-            except psutil.NoSuchProcess():
+            except psutil.NoSuchProcess:
                 pass