diff --git a/appium/common/helper.py b/appium/common/helper.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c8372095
--- /dev/null
+++ b/appium/common/helper.py
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+
+
+def appium_bytes(value, encoding):
+    """
+    Return a bytes-like object. Has _appium_ prefix to avoid overriding built-in bytes.
+
+    :param value: A value to convert
+    :type value: string
+
+    :param encoding: A encoding which will convert to
+    :type encoding: string
+
+    :return: A bytes-like object
+    :rtype: string
+    """
+
+    try:
+        return bytes(value, encoding)  # Python 3
+    except TypeError:
+        return value  # Python 2
diff --git a/appium/webdriver/webdriver.py b/appium/webdriver/webdriver.py
index 1b34fa77..572a9c27 100644
--- a/appium/webdriver/webdriver.py
+++ b/appium/webdriver/webdriver.py
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 from selenium.webdriver.remote.command import Command as RemoteCommand
 from selenium.webdriver.support.ui import WebDriverWait
 
+from appium.common.helper import appium_bytes
 from appium.webdriver.clipboard_content_type import ClipboardContentType
 from appium.webdriver.common.mobileby import MobileBy
 from appium.webdriver.common.multi_action import MultiAction
@@ -1299,13 +1300,7 @@ def set_clipboard_text(self, text, label=None):
         :param label: Optional label argument, which only works for Android
         """
 
-        def _bytes(value, encoding):
-            try:
-                return bytes(value, encoding)  # Python 3
-            except TypeError:
-                return value  # Python 2
-
-        self.set_clipboard(_bytes(str(text), 'UTF-8'), ClipboardContentType.PLAINTEXT, label)
+        self.set_clipboard(appium_bytes(str(text), 'UTF-8'), ClipboardContentType.PLAINTEXT, label)
 
     def get_clipboard(self, content_type=ClipboardContentType.PLAINTEXT):
         """
diff --git a/test/unit/webdriver/device/clipboard_test.py b/test/unit/webdriver/device/clipboard_test.py
index 0c4656ad..5f662d57 100644
--- a/test/unit/webdriver/device/clipboard_test.py
+++ b/test/unit/webdriver/device/clipboard_test.py
@@ -17,11 +17,30 @@
 import json
 import httpretty
 
+from appium.webdriver.clipboard_content_type import ClipboardContentType
+from appium.common.helper import appium_bytes
+
 
 class TestWebDriverDeviceClipboard(object):
 
     @httpretty.activate
-    def test_clipboard(self):
+    def test_set_clipboard_with_url(self):
+        driver = TestHelper.mock_android_driver()
+        httpretty.register_uri(
+            httpretty.POST,
+            'http://localhost:4723/wd/hub/session/1234567890/appium/device/set_clipboard',
+            body='{"value": ""}'
+        )
+        driver.set_clipboard(appium_bytes(str('http://appium.io/'), 'UTF-8'),
+                             ClipboardContentType.URL, 'label for android')
+
+        d = json.loads(httpretty.last_request().body.decode('utf-8'))
+        assert d['content'] == 'aHR0cDovL2FwcGl1bS5pby8='
+        assert d['contentType'] == 'url'
+        assert d['label'] == 'label for android'
+
+    @httpretty.activate
+    def test_set_clipboard_text(self):
         driver = TestHelper.mock_android_driver()
         httpretty.register_uri(
             httpretty.POST,