diff --git a/src/wallet/rpcwallet.cpp b/src/wallet/rpcwallet.cpp
index fe0947a47..5f26a4034 100644
--- a/src/wallet/rpcwallet.cpp
+++ b/src/wallet/rpcwallet.cpp
@@ -5209,8 +5209,16 @@ UniValue z_sendmany(const UniValue& params, bool fHelp, const CPubKey& mypk)
             memo = memoValue.get_str();
             if (!isZaddr) {
                 throw JSONRPCError(RPC_INVALID_PARAMETER, "Memo cannot be used with a taddr.  It can only be used with a zaddr.");
+            } else if(memo.substr(0,5) == "utf8:") {
+                // Support a prefix "utf8:" which allows giving utf8 text instead of hex
+                auto str = memo.substr(5);
+                if (utf8::is_valid(str)) {
+                    memo = HexStr(str);
+                } else {
+                    throw JSONRPCError(RPC_INVALID_PARAMETER, "Invalid utf8 in memo");
+                }
             } else if (!IsHex(memo)) {
-                throw JSONRPCError(RPC_INVALID_PARAMETER, "Invalid parameter, expected memo data in hexadecimal format.");
+                throw JSONRPCError(RPC_INVALID_PARAMETER, "Invalid parameter, expected memo data in hexadecimal format or to use 'utf8:' prefix.");
             }
             if (memo.length() > HUSH_MEMO_SIZE*2) {
                 throw JSONRPCError(RPC_INVALID_PARAMETER,  strprintf("Invalid parameter, size of memo is larger than maximum allowed %d", HUSH_MEMO_SIZE ));