diff --git a/gramps2/ChangeLog b/gramps2/ChangeLog
index b7b5fafd9..de8bbb203 100644
--- a/gramps2/ChangeLog
+++ b/gramps2/ChangeLog
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 2006-08-26  Don Allingham  <don@gramps-project.org>
+	* src/GrampsDb/_GrampsDbBase.py (GrampsDbBase.get_name_group_mapping): convert
+	group as name used as a key back to unicode (bug #389)
 	* src/Editors/_EditMedia.py (EditMedia.save): don't set path on
 	a save
 	* src/Config/_GrampsConfigKeys.py: set toolbar-on to 1 if the gconf
diff --git a/gramps2/src/GrampsDb/_GrampsDbBase.py b/gramps2/src/GrampsDb/_GrampsDbBase.py
index 3da5fadda..99eebbc53 100644
--- a/gramps2/src/GrampsDb/_GrampsDbBase.py
+++ b/gramps2/src/GrampsDb/_GrampsDbBase.py
@@ -1035,7 +1035,7 @@ class GrampsDbBase(GrampsDBCallback):
         """
         Returns the default grouping name for a surname
         """
-        return self.name_group.get(str(name), name)
+        return unicode(self.name_group.get(str(name), name))
 
     def get_name_group_keys(self):
         """