diff --git a/gluon/sqlhtml.py b/gluon/sqlhtml.py
index e0cba56c..717858e1 100644
--- a/gluon/sqlhtml.py
+++ b/gluon/sqlhtml.py
@@ -1691,6 +1691,7 @@ class SQLFORM(FORM):
 
     AUTOTYPES = {
         type(''): ('string', None),
+        type(u''): ('string',None),
         type(True): ('boolean', None),
         type(1): ('integer', IS_INT_IN_RANGE(-1e12, +1e12)),
         type(1.0): ('double', IS_FLOAT_IN_RANGE()),