diff --git a/lib/imap.js b/lib/imap.js
index b68669c..2929ce4 100644
--- a/lib/imap.js
+++ b/lib/imap.js
@@ -797,7 +797,7 @@ ImapConnection.prototype.getBoxes = function(namespace, cb) {
     namespace = '';
   }
   this._send((!this._serverSupports('XLIST') ? 'LIST' : 'XLIST')
-             + ' "' + utils.escape(namespace) + '" "*"', cb);
+             + ' "' + utils.escape(utf7.encode(''+namespace)) + '" "*"', cb);
 };
 
 ImapConnection.prototype.addBox = function(name, cb) {