diff --git a/gramps/gen/lib/handle.py b/gramps/gen/lib/handle.py
index 342d248c9..e98eecb16 100644
--- a/gramps/gen/lib/handle.py
+++ b/gramps/gen/lib/handle.py
@@ -20,10 +20,14 @@
 
 # $Id$
 
+ from gramps.gen.constfunc import UNITYPE
+
 class Handle:
     def __init__(self, classname, handle):
         """ Class to hold type and handle of referenced item """
         self.classname = classname
+        if not isinstance(handle, UNITYPE):
+            handle = handle.decode('utf-8')
         self.handle = handle
 
     def __repr__(self):