diff --git a/src/calibre/ebooks/metadata/sources/identify.py b/src/calibre/ebooks/metadata/sources/identify.py
index c683d6289b..cb01383830 100644
--- a/src/calibre/ebooks/metadata/sources/identify.py
+++ b/src/calibre/ebooks/metadata/sources/identify.py
@@ -461,7 +461,10 @@ def identify(log, abort,  # {{{
                 longest, lp = time_spent, plugin.name
         for r in presults:
             log('\n\n---')
-            log(unicode(r))
+            try:
+                log(unicode(r))
+            except TypeError:
+                log(repr(r))
         if plog:
             log(plog)
         log('\n'+'*'*80)