diff --git a/openlp/plugins/songs/lib/__init__.py b/openlp/plugins/songs/lib/__init__.py
index 409564553..e2996ff8f 100644
--- a/openlp/plugins/songs/lib/__init__.py
+++ b/openlp/plugins/songs/lib/__init__.py
@@ -267,9 +267,11 @@ def clean_song(manager, song):
     ``song``
         The song object.
     """
-    if not isinstance(song.title, basestring):
+    if isinstance(song.title, buffer):
         song.title = unicode(song.title)
-    if not isinstance(song.lyrics, basestring):
+    if isinstance(song.alternate_title, buffer):
+        song.alternate_title = unicode(song.alternate_title)
+    if isinstance(song.lyrics, buffer):
         song.lyrics = unicode(song.lyrics)
     song.title = song.title.rstrip() if song.title else u''
     if song.alternate_title is None: