diff --git a/gajim/common/helpers.py b/gajim/common/helpers.py
index 35ea382352e08b7030af97b0e884168da6f00ac1..73c1f6895db792e87f4053e593dfd59d6aec9dc2 100644
--- a/gajim/common/helpers.py
+++ b/gajim/common/helpers.py
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ class InvalidFormat(Exception):
 
 def parse_jid(jidstring):
     try:
-        return validate_jid(jidstring)
+        return str(validate_jid(jidstring))
     except Exception as error:
         raise InvalidFormat(error)