diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index f8c1937af..fd1348178 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 
 ## 5.0.4 Thu Nov 29 2018
 
+- [#5878](https://github.com/MetaMask/metamask-extension/pull/5878): Formats 32-length byte strings passed to personal_sign as hex, rather than UTF8.
 - [#5840](https://github.com/MetaMask/metamask-extension/pull/5840): transactions/tx-gas-utils - add the acctual response for eth_getCode for NO_CONTRACT_ERROR's && add a debug object to simulationFailed
 - [#5848](https://github.com/MetaMask/metamask-extension/pull/5848): Soften accusatory language on phishing warning
 - [#5835](https://github.com/MetaMask/metamask-extension/pull/5835): Open full-screen UI on install
diff --git a/ui/app/components/signature-request.js b/ui/app/components/signature-request.js
index 85af3b00b..715fea13f 100644
--- a/ui/app/components/signature-request.js
+++ b/ui/app/components/signature-request.js
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ SignatureRequest.prototype.msgHexToText = function (hex) {
   try {
     const stripped = ethUtil.stripHexPrefix(hex)
     const buff = Buffer.from(stripped, 'hex')
-    return buff.toString('utf8')
+    return buff.length === 32 ? hex : buff.toString('utf8')
   } catch (e) {
     return hex
   }