diff --git a/gramps/gui/clipboard.py b/gramps/gui/clipboard.py
index e3e552bc3..af671b78a 100644
--- a/gramps/gui/clipboard.py
+++ b/gramps/gui/clipboard.py
@@ -635,12 +635,12 @@ class ClipText(ClipWrapper):
     def __init__(self, dbstate, obj):
         super(ClipText, self).__init__(dbstate, obj)
         self._type  = _("Text")
-        self._pickle = self._obj
+        self._pickle = str(self._obj, "utf-8")
         self.refresh()
 
     def refresh(self):
         self._title = _("Text")
-        self._value = self._obj
+        self._value = str(self._obj, "utf-8")
 
 class ClipMediaObj(ClipHandleWrapper):