diff --git a/Lib/lib-tk/Tkinter.py b/Lib/lib-tk/Tkinter.py
index ec8aaafd205..e2f09a5a72b 100644
--- a/Lib/lib-tk/Tkinter.py
+++ b/Lib/lib-tk/Tkinter.py
@@ -774,6 +774,8 @@ def winfo_visualsavailable(self, includeids=0):
         data = self.tk.split(
             self.tk.call('winfo', 'visualsavailable', self._w,
                      includeids and 'includeids' or None))
+        if type(data) is StringType:
+            data = [self.tk.split(data)]
         return map(self.__winfo_parseitem, data)
     def __winfo_parseitem(self, t):
         """Internal function."""