diff --git a/src/gui/views/treemodels/treebasemodel.py b/src/gui/views/treemodels/treebasemodel.py
index 0c50c547f..852f257f3 100644
--- a/src/gui/views/treemodels/treebasemodel.py
+++ b/src/gui/views/treemodels/treebasemodel.py
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ class Node(object):
     def __init__(self, ref, parent, sortkey, handle):
         self.name = sortkey
         if sortkey:
-            self.sortkey = conv_unicode_tosrtkey_ongtk(sortkey)
+            self.sortkey = map(conv_unicode_tosrtkey_ongtk, sortkey)
         else:
             self.sortkey = None
         self.ref = ref