diff --git a/irods/test/meta_test.py b/irods/test/meta_test.py
index f398a87a..7be4b1c4 100644
--- a/irods/test/meta_test.py
+++ b/irods/test/meta_test.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #! /usr/bin/env python
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
+import contextlib
 import os
 import re
 import sys
@@ -646,6 +647,27 @@ def test_thoroughgoing_correctness_of_genquery_result_column_mappings__issue_642
         finally:
             del test_coll.metadata[meta_key]
 
+    def test_xml_mode_addresses_odd_metadata_characters__issue_582(self):
+        session = self.sess
+        try:
+            hexvalue = "53:6b:6f:70:65:43:61:6c:58:c3:af:c2:bf:c2:bd:c3:af:c2:bf:c2:bd:23:01:32:64:31"
+            hex_list = [int(byte, 16) for byte in hexvalue.split(":")]
+            string_value = "".join([chr(byte) for byte in hex_list])
+
+            try:
+                from irods.helpers import xml_mode
+            except ImportError:
+                # Create an xml_mode context manager that is a no-op.
+                def _dummy(*x): yield
+                xml_mode = contextlib.contextmanager(_dummy)
+
+            with xml_mode('QUASI_XML'):
+                obj = session.collections.get('/tempZone/home/rods')
+                attr_str = "awesome"
+                value_str = string_value
+                obj.metadata.add( attr_str, value_str )
+        finally:
+            del obj.metadata[attr_str]
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     # let the tests find the parent irods lib