diff --git a/gluon/widget.py b/gluon/widget.py
index fbd522ae..73836bc7 100644
--- a/gluon/widget.py
+++ b/gluon/widget.py
@@ -1294,11 +1294,11 @@ end tell
                         if lineno == i + 1:
                             break
                     else:
-                        line = None
+                        line = ''
                 finally:
                     f.close()
             except (IOError, OSError):
-                line = None
+                line = ''
         return line
     linecache.getline = getline