diff --git a/src/Mod/Material/MaterialEditor.py b/src/Mod/Material/MaterialEditor.py
index c68b8b05db..ded8e67f99 100644
--- a/src/Mod/Material/MaterialEditor.py
+++ b/src/Mod/Material/MaterialEditor.py
@@ -28,6 +28,9 @@ from Material import getMaterialAttributeStructure
 import os
 from PySide import QtCore, QtGui
 # from PySide import QtUiTools, QtSvg
+import sys
+if sys.version_info.major >= 3:
+    unicode = str
 
 
 __title__ = "FreeCAD material editor"
diff --git a/src/Mod/Material/importFCMat.py b/src/Mod/Material/importFCMat.py
index 430af4e9a7..a6f46e8082 100644
--- a/src/Mod/Material/importFCMat.py
+++ b/src/Mod/Material/importFCMat.py
@@ -25,6 +25,9 @@ import FreeCAD
 # import Material
 from Material import getMaterialAttributeStructure
 import os
+import sys
+if sys.version_info.major >= 3:
+    unicode = str
 
 
 __title__ = "FreeCAD material card importer"