diff --git a/bip_bencode/src/bencode.rs b/bip_bencode/src/bencode.rs
index 79740aaa09..a3d412b31a 100644
--- a/bip_bencode/src/bencode.rs
+++ b/bip_bencode/src/bencode.rs
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ pub enum Bencode<'a> {
     /// Bencode List.
     List(Vec<Bencode<'a>>),
     /// Bencode Dictionary.
-    Dict(BTreeMap<&'a str, Bencode<'a>>)
+    Dict(BTreeMap<&'a [u8], Bencode<'a>>)
 }
 
 impl<'a> Bencode<'a> {
diff --git a/bip_bencode/src/convert.rs b/bip_bencode/src/convert.rs
index 2ffef64cb1..bf8775cf49 100644
--- a/bip_bencode/src/convert.rs
+++ b/bip_bencode/src/convert.rs
@@ -12,82 +12,87 @@ pub trait BencodeConvert {
     /// Attempt to convert the given bencode value into an integer.
     ///
     /// Error key is used to generate an appropriate error message should the operation return an error.
-    fn convert_int<'a>(&self, bencode: &Bencode<'a>, error_key: &str) -> Result<i64, Self::Error> {
+    fn convert_int<'a, E>(&self, bencode: &Bencode<'a>, error_key: E) -> Result<i64, Self::Error>
+        where E: AsRef<[u8]> {
         bencode.int().ok_or(self.handle_error(BencodeConvertError::with_key(BencodeConvertErrorKind::WrongType,
-            "Bencode Is Not An Integer", error_key.to_owned())))
+            "Bencode Is Not An Integer", error_key.as_ref().to_owned())))
     }
     
     /// Attempt to convert the given bencode value into bytes.
     ///
     /// EError key is used to generate an appropriate error message should the operation return an error.
-    fn convert_bytes<'a>(&self, bencode: &Bencode<'a>, error_key: &str) -> Result<&'a [u8], Self::Error> {
+    fn convert_bytes<'a, E>(&self, bencode: &Bencode<'a>, error_key: E) -> Result<&'a [u8], Self::Error>
+        where E: AsRef<[u8]> {
         bencode.bytes().ok_or(self.handle_error(BencodeConvertError::with_key(BencodeConvertErrorKind::WrongType,
-            "Bencode Is Not Bytes", error_key.to_owned())))
+            "Bencode Is Not Bytes", error_key.as_ref().to_owned())))
     }
     
     /// Attempt to convert the given bencode value into a UTF-8 string.
     ///
     /// Error key is used to generate an appropriate error message should the operation return an error.
-    fn convert_str<'a>(&self, bencode: &Bencode<'a>, error_key: &str) -> Result<&'a str, Self::Error> {
+    fn convert_str<'a, E>(&self, bencode: &Bencode<'a>, error_key: E) -> Result<&'a str, Self::Error>
+        where E: AsRef<[u8]> {
         bencode.str().ok_or(self.handle_error(BencodeConvertError::with_key(BencodeConvertErrorKind::WrongType,
-            "Bencode Is Not A String", error_key.to_owned())))
+            "Bencode Is Not A String", error_key.as_ref().to_owned())))
     }
     
     /// Attempty to convert the given bencode value into a list.
     ///
     /// Error key is used to generate an appropriate error message should the operation return an error.
-    fn convert_list<'a, 'b>(&self, bencode: &'b Bencode<'a>, error_key: &str)
-        -> Result<&'b [Bencode<'a>], Self::Error> {
+    fn convert_list<'a, 'b, E>(&self, bencode: &'b Bencode<'a>, error_key: E)
+        -> Result<&'b [Bencode<'a>], Self::Error> where E: AsRef<[u8]> {
         bencode.list().ok_or(self.handle_error(BencodeConvertError::with_key(BencodeConvertErrorKind::WrongType,
-            "Bencode Is Not A List", error_key.to_owned())))
+            "Bencode Is Not A List", error_key.as_ref().to_owned())))
     }
     
     /// Attempt to convert the given bencode value into a dictionary.
     ///
     /// Error key is used to generate an appropriate error message should the operation return an error.
-    fn convert_dict<'a, 'b>(&self, bencode: &'b Bencode<'a>, error_key: &str)
-        -> Result<&'b Dictionary<'a, Bencode<'a>>, Self::Error> {
+    fn convert_dict<'a, 'b, E>(&self, bencode: &'b Bencode<'a>, error_key: E)
+        -> Result<&'b Dictionary<'a, Bencode<'a>>, Self::Error> where E: AsRef<[u8]> {
         bencode.dict().ok_or(self.handle_error(BencodeConvertError::with_key(BencodeConvertErrorKind::WrongType,
-            "Bencode Is Not A Dictionary", error_key.to_owned())))
+            "Bencode Is Not A Dictionary", error_key.as_ref().to_owned())))
     }
     
     /// Look up a value in a dictionary of bencoded values using the given key.
-    fn lookup<'a, 'b>(&self, dictionary: &'b Dictionary<'a, Bencode<'a>>, key: &str)
-        -> Result<&'b Bencode<'a>, Self::Error> {
-        match dictionary.lookup(key) {
+    fn lookup<'a, 'b, K>(&self, dictionary: &'b Dictionary<'a, Bencode<'a>>, key: K)
+        -> Result<&'b Bencode<'a>, Self::Error> where K: AsRef<[u8]> {
+        let key_ref = key.as_ref();
+
+        match dictionary.lookup(key_ref) {
             Some(n) => Ok(n),
             None    => Err(self.handle_error(BencodeConvertError::with_key(BencodeConvertErrorKind::MissingKey, 
-                "Dictionary Missing Key", key.to_owned())))
+                "Dictionary Missing Key", key_ref.to_owned())))
         }
     }
     
     /// Combines a lookup operation on the given key with a conversion of the value, if found, to an integer.
-    fn lookup_and_convert_int<'a>(&self, dictionary: &Dictionary<'a, Bencode<'a>>, key: &str)
-        -> Result<i64, Self::Error> {
-        self.convert_int(try!(self.lookup(dictionary, key)), key)
+    fn lookup_and_convert_int<'a, K>(&self, dictionary: &Dictionary<'a, Bencode<'a>>, key: K)
+        -> Result<i64, Self::Error> where K: AsRef<[u8]> {
+        self.convert_int(try!(self.lookup(dictionary, &key)), &key)
     }
     
     /// Combines a lookup operation on the given key with a conversion of the value, if found, to a series of bytes.
-    fn lookup_and_convert_bytes<'a>(&self, dictionary: &Dictionary<'a, Bencode<'a>>, key: &str)
-        -> Result<&'a [u8], Self::Error> {
-        self.convert_bytes(try!(self.lookup(dictionary, key)), key)
+    fn lookup_and_convert_bytes<'a, K>(&self, dictionary: &Dictionary<'a, Bencode<'a>>, key: K)
+        -> Result<&'a [u8], Self::Error> where K: AsRef<[u8]> {
+        self.convert_bytes(try!(self.lookup(dictionary, &key)), &key)
     }
     
     /// Combines a lookup operation on the given key with a conversion of the value, if found, to a UTF-8 string.
-    fn lookup_and_convert_str<'a>(&self, dictionary: &Dictionary<'a, Bencode<'a>>, key: &str)
-        -> Result<&'a str, Self::Error> {
-        self.convert_str(try!(self.lookup(dictionary, key)), key)
+    fn lookup_and_convert_str<'a, K>(&self, dictionary: &Dictionary<'a, Bencode<'a>>, key: K)
+        -> Result<&'a str, Self::Error> where K: AsRef<[u8]> {
+        self.convert_str(try!(self.lookup(dictionary, &key)), &key)
     }
     
     /// Combines a lookup operation on the given key with a conversion of the value, if found, to a list.
-    fn lookup_and_convert_list<'a: 'b, 'b>(&self, dictionary: &'b Dictionary<'a, Bencode<'a>>, key: &str)
-        -> Result<&'b [Bencode<'a>], Self::Error> {
-        self.convert_list(try!(self.lookup(dictionary, key)), key)
+    fn lookup_and_convert_list<'a: 'b, 'b, K>(&self, dictionary: &'b Dictionary<'a, Bencode<'a>>, key: K)
+        -> Result<&'b [Bencode<'a>], Self::Error> where K: AsRef<[u8]> {
+        self.convert_list(try!(self.lookup(dictionary, &key)), &key)
     }
     
     /// Combines a lookup operation on the given key with a conversion of the value, if found, to a dictionary.
-    fn lookup_and_convert_dict<'a: 'b, 'b>(&self, dictionary: &'b Dictionary<'a, Bencode<'a>>, key: &str)
-        -> Result<&'b Dictionary<'a, Bencode<'a>>, Self::Error> {
-        self.convert_dict(try!(self.lookup(dictionary, key)), key)
+    fn lookup_and_convert_dict<'a: 'b, 'b, K>(&self, dictionary: &'b Dictionary<'a, Bencode<'a>>, key: K)
+        -> Result<&'b Dictionary<'a, Bencode<'a>>, Self::Error> where K: AsRef<[u8]> {
+        self.convert_dict(try!(self.lookup(dictionary, &key)), &key)
     }
 }
diff --git a/bip_bencode/src/decode.rs b/bip_bencode/src/decode.rs
index 1945862947..41cc01e76c 100644
--- a/bip_bencode/src/decode.rs
+++ b/bip_bencode/src/decode.rs
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ use error::{BencodeParseError, BencodeParseErrorKind, BencodeParseResult};
 // underlying recursive type is a dictionary, it is a programming error otherwise)
 enum IBencodeType<'a> {
     Bencode(Bencode<'a>),
-    BencodeMapping(&'a str, Bencode<'a>)
+    BencodeMapping(&'a [u8], Bencode<'a>)
 }
 
 /// Decodes the given list of bytes at the given position into a bencoded structures.
@@ -337,17 +337,10 @@ fn decode_bytes<'a>(bytes: &'a [u8], pos: usize) -> BencodeParseResult<(&'a [u8]
 }
 
 /// Returns the key reference as well as the starting byte of the next type.
-fn decode_key<'a>(bytes: &'a [u8], pos: usize) -> BencodeParseResult<(&'a str, usize)> {
+fn decode_key<'a>(bytes: &'a [u8], pos: usize) -> BencodeParseResult<(&'a [u8], usize)> {
     let (key_bytes, next_pos) = try!(decode_bytes(bytes, pos));
-    let key = match str::from_utf8(key_bytes) {
-        Ok(n)  => n,
-        Err(_) => {
-            return Err(BencodeParseError::with_pos(BencodeParseErrorKind::InvalidByte,
-                "Invalid UTF-8 Key Found For Dictionar", Some(next_pos)))
-        }
-    };
     
-    Ok((key, next_pos))
+    Ok((key_bytes, next_pos))
 }
 
 fn peek_byte(bytes: &[u8], pos: usize, err_msg: &'static str) -> BencodeParseResult<u8> {
@@ -388,12 +381,12 @@ mod tests {
         let bencode = Bencode::decode(GENERAL).unwrap();
         
         let ben_dict = bencode.dict().unwrap();
-        assert_eq!(ben_dict.lookup("").unwrap().str().unwrap(), "zero_len_key");
-        assert_eq!(ben_dict.lookup("location").unwrap().str().unwrap(), "udp://test.com:80");
-        assert_eq!(ben_dict.lookup("number").unwrap().int().unwrap(), 500500i64);
+        assert_eq!(ben_dict.lookup("".as_bytes()).unwrap().str().unwrap(), "zero_len_key");
+        assert_eq!(ben_dict.lookup("location".as_bytes()).unwrap().str().unwrap(), "udp://test.com:80");
+        assert_eq!(ben_dict.lookup("number".as_bytes()).unwrap().int().unwrap(), 500500i64);
         
-        let nested_dict = ben_dict.lookup("nested dict").unwrap().dict().unwrap();
-        let nested_list = nested_dict.lookup("list").unwrap().list().unwrap();
+        let nested_dict = ben_dict.lookup("nested dict".as_bytes()).unwrap().dict().unwrap();
+        let nested_list = nested_dict.lookup("list".as_bytes()).unwrap().list().unwrap();
         assert_eq!(nested_list[0].int().unwrap(), -500500i64);
    }
     
@@ -415,12 +408,12 @@ mod tests {
     fn positive_decode_dict() {
         let bencode = Bencode::decode(DICTIONARY).unwrap();
         let dict = bencode.dict().unwrap();
-        assert_eq!(dict.lookup("test_key").unwrap().str().unwrap(), "test_value");
+        assert_eq!(dict.lookup("test_key".as_bytes()).unwrap().str().unwrap(), "test_value");
         
-        let nested_dict = dict.lookup("test_dict").unwrap().dict().unwrap();
-        assert_eq!(nested_dict.lookup("nested_key").unwrap().str().unwrap(), "nested_value");
+        let nested_dict = dict.lookup("test_dict".as_bytes()).unwrap().dict().unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(nested_dict.lookup("nested_key".as_bytes()).unwrap().str().unwrap(), "nested_value");
         
-        let nested_list = nested_dict.lookup("nested_list").unwrap().list().unwrap();
+        let nested_list = nested_dict.lookup("nested_list".as_bytes()).unwrap().list().unwrap();
         assert_eq!(nested_list[0].int().unwrap(), 500i64);
         assert_eq!(nested_list[1].int().unwrap(), -500i64);
         assert_eq!(nested_list[2].int().unwrap(), 0i64);
@@ -440,7 +433,7 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(nested_list[0].str().unwrap(), "nested_bytes");
         
         let nested_dict = list[5].dict().unwrap();
-        assert_eq!(nested_dict.lookup("test_key").unwrap().str().unwrap(), "test_value");
+        assert_eq!(nested_dict.lookup("test_key".as_bytes()).unwrap().str().unwrap(), "test_value");
     }
    
     #[test]
diff --git a/bip_bencode/src/dictionary.rs b/bip_bencode/src/dictionary.rs
index 0656b14ebe..626ad89934 100644
--- a/bip_bencode/src/dictionary.rs
+++ b/bip_bencode/src/dictionary.rs
@@ -3,39 +3,39 @@ use std::collections::{BTreeMap};
 /// Trait for working with generic map data structures.
 pub trait Dictionary<'a, V> {
     /// Convert the dictionary to an unordered list of key/value pairs.
-    fn to_list(&self) -> Vec<(&'a str, &V)>;
+    fn to_list(&self) -> Vec<(&'a [u8], &V)>;
 
     /// Lookup a value in the dictionary.
-    fn lookup(&self, key: &str) -> Option<&V>;
+    fn lookup(&self, key: &[u8]) -> Option<&V>;
     
     /// Lookup a mutable value in the dictionary.
-    fn lookup_mut(&mut self, key: &str) -> Option<&mut V>;
+    fn lookup_mut(&mut self, key: &[u8]) -> Option<&mut V>;
 
     /// Insert a key/value pair into the dictionary.
-    fn insert(&mut self, key: &'a str, value: V) -> Option<V>;
+    fn insert(&mut self, key: &'a [u8], value: V) -> Option<V>;
     
     /// Remove a value from the dictionary and return it.
-    fn remove(&mut self, key: &str) -> Option<V>;
+    fn remove(&mut self, key: &[u8]) -> Option<V>;
 }
 
-impl<'a, V> Dictionary<'a, V> for BTreeMap<&'a str, V> {
-    fn to_list(&self) -> Vec<(&'a str, &V)> {
+impl<'a, V> Dictionary<'a, V> for BTreeMap<&'a [u8], V> {
+    fn to_list(&self) -> Vec<(&'a [u8], &V)> {
         self.iter().map(|(k, v)| (*k, v)).collect()
     }
 
-    fn lookup(&self, key: &str) -> Option<&V> {
+    fn lookup(&self, key: &[u8]) -> Option<&V> {
         self.get(key)
     }
     
-    fn lookup_mut(&mut self, key: &str) -> Option<&mut V> {
+    fn lookup_mut(&mut self, key: &[u8]) -> Option<&mut V> {
         self.get_mut(key)
     }
 
-    fn insert(&mut self, key: &'a str, value: V) -> Option<V> {
+    fn insert(&mut self, key: &'a [u8], value: V) -> Option<V> {
         self.insert(key, value)
     }
     
-    fn remove(&mut self, key: &str) -> Option<V> {
+    fn remove(&mut self, key: &[u8]) -> Option<V> {
         self.remove(key)
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/bip_bencode/src/encode.rs b/bip_bencode/src/encode.rs
index 3ee8d1c1b8..bd0a120ac0 100644
--- a/bip_bencode/src/encode.rs
+++ b/bip_bencode/src/encode.rs
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ fn encode_dict<'a>(dict: &Dictionary<'a, Bencode<'a>>) -> Vec<u8> {
     bytes.push(::DICT_START);
     // Iterate And Dictionary Encode The (String, Bencode) Pairs
     for &(ref key, ref value) in sort_dict.iter() {
-        bytes.extend(encode_bytes(key.as_bytes()));
+        bytes.extend(encode_bytes(key));
         bytes.extend(encode(*value));
     }
     bytes.push(::BEN_END);
diff --git a/bip_bencode/src/error.rs b/bip_bencode/src/error.rs
index 52fc6295e3..4f3892081b 100644
--- a/bip_bencode/src/error.rs
+++ b/bip_bencode/src/error.rs
@@ -87,16 +87,16 @@ pub enum BencodeConvertErrorKind {
 pub struct BencodeConvertError {
     kind: BencodeConvertErrorKind,
     desc: &'static str,
-    key: Cow<'static, str>
+    key: Cow<'static, [u8]>
 }
 
 impl BencodeConvertError {
     pub fn new(kind: BencodeConvertErrorKind, desc: &'static str) -> BencodeConvertError {
-        BencodeConvertError::with_key(kind, desc, "")
+        BencodeConvertError::with_key(kind, desc, "".as_bytes())
     }
 
     pub fn with_key<T>(kind: BencodeConvertErrorKind, desc: &'static str, key: T)
-        -> BencodeConvertError where T: Into<Cow<'static, str>> {
+        -> BencodeConvertError where T: Into<Cow<'static, [u8]>> {
         BencodeConvertError{ kind: kind, desc: desc, key: key.into() }
     }
     
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ impl BencodeConvertError {
         self.desc
     }
     
-    pub fn key(&self) -> &str {
+    pub fn key(&self) -> &[u8] {
         &self.key
     }
 }
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ impl Display for BencodeConvertError {
         
         try!(f.write_fmt(format_args!(", Description: {}", self.desc)));
         
-        try!(f.write_fmt(format_args!(", Key: {}", self.key)));
+        try!(f.write_fmt(format_args!(", Key: {:?}", self.key)));
         
         Ok(())
     }   
diff --git a/bip_bencode/src/lib.rs b/bip_bencode/src/lib.rs
index 0b68c2a99c..ba05399cc2 100644
--- a/bip_bencode/src/lib.rs
+++ b/bip_bencode/src/lib.rs
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 //!         let data = b"d12:lucky_numberi7ee";
 //!         let bencode = Bencode::decode(data).unwrap();
 //!
-//!         assert_eq!(7, bencode.dict().unwrap().lookup("lucky_number")
+//!         assert_eq!(7, bencode.dict().unwrap().lookup("lucky_number".as_bytes())
 //!             .unwrap().int().unwrap());
 //!     }
 //! ```