diff --git a/action/config_template.py b/action/config_template.py
index c8c7246..74efb9f 100644
--- a/action/config_template.py
+++ b/action/config_template.py
@@ -213,14 +213,20 @@ class ConfigTemplateParser(ConfigParser.RawConfigParser):
             if line[0].isspace() and cursect is not None and optname:
                 value = line.strip()
                 if value:
-                    if isinstance(cursect[optname], (tuple, set)):
-                        _temp_item = list(cursect[optname])
-                        del cursect[optname]
-                        cursect[optname] = _temp_item
-                    elif isinstance(cursect[optname], (str, unicode)):
-                        _temp_item = [cursect[optname]]
-                        del cursect[optname]
-                        cursect[optname] = _temp_item
+                    try:
+                        if isinstance(cursect[optname], (tuple, set)):
+                            _temp_item = list(cursect[optname])
+                            del cursect[optname]
+                            cursect[optname] = _temp_item
+                        elif isinstance(cursect[optname], (str, unicode)):
+                            _temp_item = [cursect[optname]]
+                            del cursect[optname]
+                            cursect[optname] = _temp_item
+                    except NameError:
+                        if isinstance(cursect[optname], (bytes, str)):
+                            _temp_item = [cursect[optname]]
+                            del cursect[optname]
+                            cursect[optname] = _temp_item
                     cursect[optname].append(value)
             else:
                 mo = self.SECTCRE.match(line)
diff --git a/tests/files/test_extend.yml.expected b/tests/files/test_extend.yml.expected
index c132a76..eda6a80 100644
--- a/tests/files/test_extend.yml.expected
+++ b/tests/files/test_extend.yml.expected
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ list_one:
   - two
   - three
   - four
+  - 4
 list_two:
   - one
   - two
diff --git a/tests/files/test_no_extend.yml.expected b/tests/files/test_no_extend.yml.expected
index 4713768..7e79aa7 100644
--- a/tests/files/test_no_extend.yml.expected
+++ b/tests/files/test_no_extend.yml.expected
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 list_one:
   - four
+  - 4
 list_two:
   - one
   - two
diff --git a/tests/templates/test_with_comments.ini b/tests/templates/test_with_comments.ini
index aa292fb..79d3644 100644
--- a/tests/templates/test_with_comments.ini
+++ b/tests/templates/test_with_comments.ini
@@ -2,8 +2,14 @@
 # broken into multiple lines
 [DEFAULT]
 
+# This tests the py3 unicode bug #1763422
+test_hosts =
+        +_unicode
+        1
+        string
+
 [foo]
 #This is a comment
 baz = baz
 
-[bar]
\ No newline at end of file
+[bar]
diff --git a/tests/test.yml b/tests/test.yml
index 1dfb17c..54c3269 100644
--- a/tests/test.yml
+++ b/tests/test.yml
@@ -222,17 +222,17 @@
       foo:
         baz: "bar"
       section1:
-        key1: "value1"
-        key2: "value2"
-        key3: "value3"
-        key4: "value4"
-        key5: "value5"
-        key6: "value6"
-        key7: "value7"
-        key8: "value8"
-        key9: "value9"
-        key10: "value10"
-        key11: "value11"
+        key1: "String1"
+        key2: "string2"
+        key3: "string3"
+        key4: "string4"
+        key5: "string5"
+        key6: "string6"
+        key7: 1
+        key8: 2
+        key9: 3
+        key10: 10
+        key11: 11
       section2:
         key1: "value1"
       section3:
@@ -246,15 +246,16 @@
       section7:
         key1: "value1"
       section8:
-        key1: "value1"
+        key1: 1
       section9:
-        key1: "value1"
+        key1: 1
       section10:
-        key1: "value1"
+        key1: 1
       section11:
-        key1: "value1"
+        key1: 1
     test_config_yml_overrides:
       list_one:
         - four
+        - 4
     test_config_yml_hostvars_overrides:
       test_hostvar: "{{ ansible_default_ipv4.address }}"