1 files changed, 9 insertions, 3 deletions
diff --git a/lib/rexml/functions.rb b/lib/rexml/functions.rb
index 8293e9c5ac..b3c89877e5 100644
--- a/lib/rexml/functions.rb
+++ b/lib/rexml/functions.rb
@@ -256,9 +256,15 @@ module REXML
         end
       }
 
-      string(string).unpack('U*').collect { |c|
-        if map.has_key? c then map[c] else c end
-      }.compact.pack('U*')
+      if ''.respond_to? :chars
+        string(string).chars.collect { |c|
+          if map.has_key? c then map[c] else c end
+        }.compact.join
+      else
+        string(string).unpack('U*').collect { |c|
+          if map.has_key? c then map[c] else c end
+        }.compact.pack('U*')
+      end
     end
 
     # UNTESTED