diff --git a/attract/tasks/__init__.py b/attract/tasks/__init__.py
index 9bca039..ddf1840 100644
--- a/attract/tasks/__init__.py
+++ b/attract/tasks/__init__.py
@@ -65,7 +65,9 @@ class TaskManager(object):
         task.name = fields.pop('name')
         task.description = fields.pop('description')
         task.properties.status = fields.pop('status')
-        task.properties.task_type = fields.pop('task_type', '').strip() or None
+        task.properties.task_type = fields.pop('task_type', None)
+        if isinstance(task.properties.task_type, basestring):
+            task.properties.task_type = task.properties.task_type.strip() or None
 
         due_date = fields.pop('due_date', None)
         if due_date: