diff --git a/powerline/segments/common/players.py b/powerline/segments/common/players.py
index f43db0c1..6b28bd0a 100644
--- a/powerline/segments/common/players.py
+++ b/powerline/segments/common/players.py
@@ -296,6 +296,8 @@ else:
 			title = out_u(title)
 		if artist:
 			artist = out_u(artist[0])
+		else:
+			artist = ""
 
 		length = info.get('mpris:length')
 		# avoid parsing `None` length values, that would