diff --git a/mate_menu/plugins/applications.py b/mate_menu/plugins/applications.py

index b5d6b8f..bdcc3c9 100644

--- a/mate_menu/plugins/applications.py

+++ b/mate_menu/plugins/applications.py

@@ -1569,7 +1569,11 @@ class pluginclass( object ):

             for child in get_contents(menu.directory):

                 if isinstance(child, MateMenu.TreeDirectory):

                     name = child.get_name()

-                    icon = child.get_icon().to_string()

+                    icon = child.get_icon()

+                    if ( icon == None ):

+                        icon = "applications-other"

+                    else:

+                        icon = icon.to_string()

                     newCategoryList.append( { "name": name, "icon": icon, "tooltip": name, "filter": name, "index": num } )

             num += 1