diff --git a/web/pgadmin/tools/sqleditor/__init__.py b/web/pgadmin/tools/sqleditor/__init__.py
index c72505a..fa8b83f 100644
--- a/web/pgadmin/tools/sqleditor/__init__.py
+++ b/web/pgadmin/tools/sqleditor/__init__.py
@@ -1474,7 +1474,8 @@ def query_tool_status(trans_id):
             errormsg=error_msg
         )
 
-    if conn and trans_obj and session_obj:
+    if conn and trans_obj and session_obj \
+        and conn.transaction_status() is not None:
         status = conn.transaction_status()
         return make_json_response(
             data={
diff --git a/web/pgadmin/utils/driver/psycopg2/connection.py b/web/pgadmin/utils/driver/psycopg2/connection.py
index 315631c..8ca30b3 100644
--- a/web/pgadmin/utils/driver/psycopg2/connection.py
+++ b/web/pgadmin/utils/driver/psycopg2/connection.py
@@ -49,6 +49,10 @@ else:
 
 _ = gettext
 
+# Use utf_8 decoder instead of psycopg2 default ascii for
+# SQL_ASCII database to avoid decode errors
+encodings['SQL_ASCII'] = 'utf_8'
+encodings['SQLASCII'] = 'utf_8'
 
 # Register global type caster which will be applicable to all connections.
 register_global_typecasters()