diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog
index 77f12f1b3..137c8746f 100644
--- a/ChangeLog
+++ b/ChangeLog
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 2003-06-27  Tim Waugh  <twaugh@redhat.com>
+	* src/EditPerson.py: Place keys are unicode.
 	* src/plugins/Ancestors.py: Include source reference notes.  Made
 	source citation optional.  Adjusted styles.
 
diff --git a/src/EditPerson.py b/src/EditPerson.py
index 852ad4948..a57201c4d 100644
--- a/src/EditPerson.py
+++ b/src/EditPerson.py
@@ -961,8 +961,8 @@ class EditPerson:
         if self.lds_not_loaded == 0 and self.check_lds():
             changed = 1
 
-        bplace = string.strip(self.bplace.get_text())
-        dplace = string.strip(self.dplace.get_text())
+        bplace = unicode(string.strip(self.bplace.get_text()))
+        dplace = unicode(string.strip(self.dplace.get_text()))
 
         if self.pdmap.has_key(bplace):
             p1 = self.db.getPlaceMap()[self.pdmap[bplace]]