diff --git a/cps/tasks/convert.py b/cps/tasks/convert.py
index ada53005..004faec8 100644
--- a/cps/tasks/convert.py
+++ b/cps/tasks/convert.py
@@ -217,13 +217,16 @@ class TaskConvert(CalibreTask):
                     quotes.append(quotes_index)
                     quotes_index += 1
 
-            p = process_open(command, quotes)
+            p = process_open(command, quotes, newlines=False)
         except OSError as e:
             return 1, _(u"Ebook-converter failed: %(error)s", error=e)
 
         while p.poll() is None:
             nextline = p.stdout.readline()
-            log.debug(nextline.strip('\r\n'))
+            if isinstance(nextline, bytes):
+                nextline = nextline.decode('utf-8', errors="ignore").strip('\r\n')
+            if nextline:
+                log.debug(nextline)
             # parse progress string from calibre-converter
             progress = re.search(r"(\d+)%\s.*", nextline)
             if progress:
@@ -244,3 +247,6 @@ class TaskConvert(CalibreTask):
     @property
     def name(self):
         return "Convert"
+
+    def __str__(self):
+        return "Convert {} {}".format(self.bookid, self.kindle_mail)
diff --git a/cps/tasks/mail.py b/cps/tasks/mail.py
index 2e95ee98..05b2175f 100644
--- a/cps/tasks/mail.py
+++ b/cps/tasks/mail.py
@@ -267,4 +267,4 @@ class TaskEmail(CalibreTask):
         return "E-mail"
 
     def __str__(self):
-        return "{}, {}".format(self.name, self.subject)
+        return "E-mail {}, {}".format(self.name, self.subject)
diff --git a/cps/tasks/upload.py b/cps/tasks/upload.py
index 6a341cdd..2a667c28 100644
--- a/cps/tasks/upload.py
+++ b/cps/tasks/upload.py
@@ -32,3 +32,6 @@ class TaskUpload(CalibreTask):
     @property
     def name(self):
         return "Upload"
+
+    def __str__(self):
+        return "Upload {}".format(self.message)