diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index 68c8b281..6bac85e1 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Version 1.99.4 (2012-01-12 14:01:39) stable
+Version 1.99.4 (2012-01-12 14:04:26) stable
diff --git a/gluon/validators.py b/gluon/validators.py
index 543435cd..29f7b179 100644
--- a/gluon/validators.py
+++ b/gluon/validators.py
@@ -56,7 +56,9 @@ __all__ = [
     ]
 
 def translate(text):
-    if isinstance(text,(str,unicode)):
+    if text is None:
+        return None
+    elif isinstance(text,(str,unicode)):
         from globals import current
         if hasattr(current,'T'):
             return str(current.T(text))