diff --git a/src/common/connection.py b/src/common/connection.py
index 8a03f4787..2aaf74727 100644
--- a/src/common/connection.py
+++ b/src/common/connection.py
@@ -300,7 +300,7 @@ class Connection:
 			self.dispatch('SUBSCRIBED', (jid.getStripped().encode('utf8'),
 				jid.getResource().encode('utf8')))
 			self.dispatch('UPDUSER', (jid.getStripped().encode('utf8'),
-				jid.getNode(), ['General']))
+				jid.getNode(), [_('General')]))
 			#BE CAREFUL : no con.updateRosterItem() in a callback
 			gajim.log.debug('we are now subscribed to %s' % who)
 		elif ptype == 'unsubscribe':
diff --git a/src/gajim.py b/src/gajim.py
index 2b083c550..da98e36be 100755
--- a/src/gajim.py
+++ b/src/gajim.py
@@ -440,7 +440,7 @@ class Interface:
 			if 'not in the roster' in u.groups:
 				u.groups.remove('not in the roster')
 			if len(u.groups) == 0:
-				u.groups = ['General']
+				u.groups = [_('General')]
 			self.roster.add_user_to_roster(u.jid, account)
 			gajim.connections[account].update_user(u.jid, u.name, u.groups)
 		else:
@@ -450,7 +450,7 @@ class Interface:
 			if jid in attached_keys:
 				keyID = attached_keys[attached_keys.index(jid) + 1]
 			user1 = Contact(jid = jid, name = jid.split('@')[0],
-				groups = ['General'], show = 'online', status = 'online',
+				groups = [_('General')], show = 'online', status = 'online',
 				ask = 'to', resource = array[1], keyID = keyID)
 			self.roster.contacts[account][jid] = [user1]
 			self.roster.add_user_to_roster(jid, account)
diff --git a/src/roster_window.py b/src/roster_window.py
index ea6fe6b9e..870cd2a82 100644
--- a/src/roster_window.py
+++ b/src/roster_window.py
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ class RosterWindow:
 		if user.jid.find('@') <= 0: # if not '@' or '@' starts the jid ==> agent
 			user.groups = ['Transports']
 		elif user.groups == []:
-			user.groups.append('General')
+			user.groups.append(_('General'))
 
 		if (user.show == 'offline' or user.show == 'error') and \
 		   not showOffline and (not 'Transports' in user.groups or \
@@ -803,7 +803,7 @@ class RosterWindow:
 			pseudo = jid
 		gajim.connections[account].request_subscription(jid, txt)
 		if not group:
-			group = 'General'
+			group = _('General')
 		if not self.contacts[account].has_key(jid):
 			keyID = ''
 			attached_keys = gajim.config.get_per('accounts', account,