diff --git a/functions/custom_fields.py b/functions/custom_fields.py
index 5fa4f1cb..ead09aa4 100644
--- a/functions/custom_fields.py
+++ b/functions/custom_fields.py
@@ -273,7 +273,13 @@ class MonthMultiSelectField(models.CharField):
         with TimeEncoding(locale) as encoding:
             if not isinstance(cls._saved_month_names, list):
                 cls._saved_month_names = list(month_name)
-            return cls._saved_month_names[month_num].decode(encoding)
+            try:
+                # python 2.7.6
+                m = cls._saved_month_names[month_num].decode(encoding)
+            except (TypeError, ):
+                # python 2.7.3
+                m = cls._saved_month_names[month_num]
+            return m
 
     @classmethod
     def make_choice_display(cls, m, y):