diff --git a/src/ReportBase/_ReportUtils.py b/src/ReportBase/_ReportUtils.py
index 64e5e1c48..d909a6216 100644
--- a/src/ReportBase/_ReportUtils.py
+++ b/src/ReportBase/_ReportUtils.py
@@ -1555,7 +1555,7 @@ def place_name(db, place_handle):
         place = db.get_place_from_handle(place_handle).get_title()
     else:
         place = ""
-    return place
+    return unicode(place)
     
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