diff --git a/openlp/core/ui/themeform.py b/openlp/core/ui/themeform.py
index 3f1775f45..8bf194cab 100644
--- a/openlp/core/ui/themeform.py
+++ b/openlp/core/ui/themeform.py
@@ -229,10 +229,10 @@ class ThemeForm(QtGui.QWizard, Ui_ThemeWizard):
                 pixmapHeight + 2 * frameWidth)
 
     def validateCurrentPage(self):
+        background_image = BackgroundType.to_string(BackgroundType.Image)
         if self.page(self.currentId()) == self.backgroundPage and \
-            self.theme.background_type == \
-                BackgroundType.to_string(BackgroundType.Image) and \
-            unicode(self.imageFileEdit.text()) == u'':
+            self.theme.background_type == background_image and \
+            self.imageFileEdit.text().isEmpty():
             QtGui.QMessageBox.critical(self,
                 translate('OpenLP.ThemeWizard', 'Background Image Empty'),
                 translate('OpenLP.ThemeWizard', 'You have not selected a '