diff --git a/plugins/im-status/im-status/__init__.py b/plugins/im-status/im-status/__init__.py
index c716a75..e832d32 100644
--- a/plugins/im-status/im-status/__init__.py
+++ b/plugins/im-status/im-status/__init__.py
@@ -260,7 +260,7 @@ class IMStatusPlugin (rb.Plugin):
     except dbus.DBusException, e:
       print "dbus exception while setting status: " + str(e)
 
-    return None
+    return ""
 
   def set_purple_status (self, new_status):
     if not use_purple:
