diff --git a/sprockets/mixins/media_type.py b/sprockets/mixins/media_type.py
index 6965b17..c706f71 100644
--- a/sprockets/mixins/media_type.py
+++ b/sprockets/mixins/media_type.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ sprockets.mixins.media_type
 import logging
 
 from ietfparse import algorithms, errors, headers
-from tornado import web
+from tornado import escape, web
 
 
 version_info = (0, 0, 0)
@@ -256,7 +256,8 @@ class _TextContentHandler(object):
     def to_bytes(self, data_dict, encoding=None):
         selected = encoding or self.default_encoding
         content_type = '{0}; charset="{1}"'.format(self.content_type, selected)
-        return content_type, self._dumps(data_dict).encode(selected)
+        dumped = self._dumps(escape.recursive_unicode(data_dict))
+        return content_type, dumped.encode(selected)
 
     def from_bytes(self, data, encoding=None):
         return self._loads(data.decode(encoding or self.default_encoding))
diff --git a/tox.ini b/tox.ini
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..71a7562
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tox.ini
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+[tox]
+envlist = py27,py34
+indexserver =
+	default = https://pypi.python.org/simple
+toxworkdir = build/tox
+
+[testenv]
+deps =
+	-rrequires/installation.txt
+	-rrequires/testing.txt
+commands = nosetests []