diff --git a/bitbake/lib/bb/data_smart.py b/bitbake/lib/bb/data_smart.py
index 0128a5bb17..c6049d578e 100644
--- a/bitbake/lib/bb/data_smart.py
+++ b/bitbake/lib/bb/data_smart.py
@@ -272,12 +272,9 @@ class VariableHistory(object):
             return
         if 'op' not in loginfo or not loginfo['op']:
             loginfo['op'] = 'set'
-        if 'detail' in loginfo:
-            loginfo['detail'] = str(loginfo['detail'])
         if 'variable' not in loginfo or 'file' not in loginfo:
             raise ValueError("record() missing variable or file.")
         var = loginfo['variable']
-
         if var not in self.variables:
             self.variables[var] = []
         if not isinstance(self.variables[var], list):
@@ -336,7 +333,8 @@ class VariableHistory(object):
                     flag = '[%s] ' % (event['flag'])
                 else:
                     flag = ''
-                o.write("#   %s %s:%s%s\n#     %s\"%s\"\n" % (event['op'], event['file'], event['line'], display_func, flag, re.sub('\n', '\n#     ', event['detail'])))
+                o.write("#   %s %s:%s%s\n#     %s\"%s\"\n" % \
+                    (event['op'], event['file'], event['line'], display_func, flag, re.sub('\n', '\n#     ', str(event['detail']))))
             if len(history) > 1:
                 o.write("# pre-expansion value:\n")
                 o.write('#   "%s"\n' % (commentVal))
@@ -390,7 +388,7 @@ class VariableHistory(object):
             if isset and event['op'] == 'set?':
                 continue
             isset = True
-            items = d.expand(event['detail']).split()
+            items = d.expand(str(event['detail'])).split()
             for item in items:
                 # This is a little crude but is belt-and-braces to avoid us
                 # having to handle every possible operation type specifically