diff --git a/OpenSim/Region/ScriptEngine/Shared/Api/Implementation/LSL_Api.cs b/OpenSim/Region/ScriptEngine/Shared/Api/Implementation/LSL_Api.cs
index 05aaebf5d1..adef0e6839 100644
--- a/OpenSim/Region/ScriptEngine/Shared/Api/Implementation/LSL_Api.cs
+++ b/OpenSim/Region/ScriptEngine/Shared/Api/Implementation/LSL_Api.cs
@@ -4401,7 +4401,18 @@ namespace OpenSim.Region.ScriptEngine.Shared.Api
             Vector3 av3 = new Vector3(Util.Clip((float)color.x, 0.0f, 1.0f),
                                       Util.Clip((float)color.y, 0.0f, 1.0f),
                                       Util.Clip((float)color.z, 0.0f, 1.0f));
-            m_host.SetText(text.Length > 254 ? text.Remove(254) : text, av3, Util.Clip((float)alpha, 0.0f, 1.0f));
+            if (text.Length > 254)
+                text = text.Remove(254);
+
+            byte[] data;
+            do
+            {
+                data = Util.UTF8.GetBytes(text);
+                if (data.Length > 254)
+                    text = text.Substring(0, text.Length - 1);
+            } while (data.Length > 254);
+
+            m_host.SetText(text, av3, Util.Clip((float)alpha, 0.0f, 1.0f));
             //m_host.ParentGroup.HasGroupChanged = true;
             //m_host.ParentGroup.ScheduleGroupForFullUpdate();
         }