diff --git a/pyqtgraph/widgets/SpinBox.py b/pyqtgraph/widgets/SpinBox.py
index 23516827..1d8600c4 100644
--- a/pyqtgraph/widgets/SpinBox.py
+++ b/pyqtgraph/widgets/SpinBox.py
@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@ class SpinBox(QtGui.QAbstractSpinBox):
         Select the numerical portion of the text to allow quick editing by the user.
         """
         le = self.lineEdit()
-        text = le.text()
+        text = asUnicode(le.text())
         try:
             index = text.index(' ')
         except ValueError: