diff --git a/freecad/plot/plotAxes/TaskPanel.py b/freecad/plot/plotAxes/TaskPanel.py
index 7748742..5526ee0 100644
--- a/freecad/plot/plotAxes/TaskPanel.py
+++ b/freecad/plot/plotAxes/TaskPanel.py
@@ -31,6 +31,11 @@
 from freecad.plot import Plot
 from freecad.plot.plotUtils import Paths
 
+try:
+    unicode        # Python 2
+except NameError:
+    unicode = str  # Python 3
+
 
 class TaskPanel:
     def __init__(self):
diff --git a/freecad/plot/plotLabels/TaskPanel.py b/freecad/plot/plotLabels/TaskPanel.py
index b173ed8..ec70cda 100644
--- a/freecad/plot/plotLabels/TaskPanel.py
+++ b/freecad/plot/plotLabels/TaskPanel.py
@@ -30,6 +30,11 @@
 from freecad.plot import Plot
 from freecad.plot.plotUtils import Paths
 
+try:
+    unicode        # Python 2
+except NameError:
+    unicode = str  # Python 3
+
 
 class TaskPanel:
     def __init__(self):