diff --git a/gluon/storage.py b/gluon/storage.py
index 2c94079c..e12ee971 100644
--- a/gluon/storage.py
+++ b/gluon/storage.py
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ class Messages(Settings):
     def __getattr__(self, key):
         value = self[key]
         if isinstance(value, str):
-            return str(self.T(value))
+            return self.T(value)
         return value
 
 class FastStorage(dict):