diff --git a/python/console/console_sci.py b/python/console/console_sci.py
index 7277568b296..223890db091 100644
--- a/python/console/console_sci.py
+++ b/python/console/console_sci.py
@@ -512,7 +512,7 @@ class ShellScintilla(QsciScintilla, code.InteractiveInterpreter):
             QsciScintillaCompat.dropEvent(self, e)
 
     def insertFromDropPaste(self, textDP):
-        pasteList = str(textDP).splitlines()
+        pasteList = unicode(textDP).splitlines()
         for line in pasteList[:-1]:
             cleanLine = line.replace(">>> ", "").replace("... ", "")
             self.insert(unicode(cleanLine))