diff --git a/src/Mod/Arch/ArchComponent.py b/src/Mod/Arch/ArchComponent.py
index 7b2a8e5e25..18ef57593c 100644
--- a/src/Mod/Arch/ArchComponent.py
+++ b/src/Mod/Arch/ArchComponent.py
@@ -468,7 +468,10 @@ class Component:
 
     def __getstate__(self):
 
-        return None
+        # for compatibility with 0.17
+        if hasattr(self,"Type"):
+            return self.Type
+        return "Component"
 
     def __setstate__(self,state):