diff --git a/src/PluginUtils/_GuiOptions.py b/src/PluginUtils/_GuiOptions.py
index a223a86eb..edd332fdc 100644
--- a/src/PluginUtils/_GuiOptions.py
+++ b/src/PluginUtils/_GuiOptions.py
@@ -700,9 +700,7 @@ class GuiNoteOption(gtk.HBox):
         """
         if note:
             note_id = note.get_gramps_id()
-            txt = " ".join(note.get().split())
-            #String must be unicode for truncation to work for non ascii characters
-            txt = unicode(txt)
+            txt = u" ".join(note.get().split())
             if len(txt) > 35:
                 txt = txt[:35] + "..."
             txt = "%s [%s]" % (txt, note_id)