diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index a29c60f1e..0423c5cc6 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-0.9.3-beta.0
\ No newline at end of file
+0.9.3-beta.1
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/libs/subliminal_patch/utils.py b/libs/subliminal_patch/utils.py
index e7b84a378..fb6bba5da 100644
--- a/libs/subliminal_patch/utils.py
+++ b/libs/subliminal_patch/utils.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ def sanitize(string, ignore_characters=None, default_characters={'-', ':', '(',
 
     """
     # only deal with strings
-    if string is None:
+    if not isinstance(string, str):
         return
 
     ignore_characters = ignore_characters or set()