diff --git a/openlp/core/utils/actions.py b/openlp/core/utils/actions.py
index 86ee69a48..26a0c48e8 100644
--- a/openlp/core/utils/actions.py
+++ b/openlp/core/utils/actions.py
@@ -149,6 +149,8 @@ class CategoryList(object):
         return self.__next__()
 
     def has_key(self, key):
+        if key != None and not isinstance(key, unicode):
+            key = unicode(key)
         for category in self.categories:
             if category.name == key:
                 return True
@@ -164,6 +166,8 @@ class CategoryList(object):
             self.add(name, weight)
 
     def add(self, name, weight=0, actions=None):
+        if name != None and not isinstance(name, unicode):
+            name = unicode(name)
         category = ActionCategory(name, weight)
         if actions:
             for action in actions:
@@ -270,6 +274,8 @@ class ActionList(object):
         ``weight``
             The category's weight (int).
         """
+        if name != None and not isinstance(name, unicode):
+            name = unicode(name)
         if name in self.categories:
             # Only change the weight and resort the categories again.
             for category in self.categories: