diff --git a/beets/util/__init__.py b/beets/util/__init__.py
index 3afa9b491..313313cf2 100644
--- a/beets/util/__init__.py
+++ b/beets/util/__init__.py
@@ -473,6 +473,8 @@ def as_string(value):
     """
     if value is None:
         return u''
+    elif isinstance(value, buffer):
+        return str(value).decode('utf8', 'ignore')
     elif isinstance(value, str):
         return value.decode('utf8', 'ignore')
     else: