diff --git a/direct/src/gui/DirectFrame.py b/direct/src/gui/DirectFrame.py
index 9db60f727b..9c164038b9 100644
--- a/direct/src/gui/DirectFrame.py
+++ b/direct/src/gui/DirectFrame.py
@@ -10,9 +10,9 @@ from .OnscreenGeom import OnscreenGeom
 import sys
 
 if sys.version_info >= (3, 0):
-    stringTypes = (str,)
+    stringType = str
 else:
-    stringTypes = (str, unicode)
+    stringType = basestring
 
 
 class DirectFrame(DirectGuiWidget):
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ class DirectFrame(DirectGuiWidget):
         # Determine if user passed in single string or a sequence
         if self['text'] == None:
             textList = (None,) * self['numStates']
-        elif isinstance(self['text'], stringTypes):
+        elif isinstance(self['text'], stringType):
             # If just passing in a single string, make a tuple out of it
             textList = (self['text'],) * self['numStates']
         else:
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ class DirectFrame(DirectGuiWidget):
             # Passed in None
             geomList = (None,) * self['numStates']
         elif isinstance(geom, NodePath) or \
-             isinstance(geom, stringTypes):
+             isinstance(geom, stringType):
             # Passed in a single node path, make a tuple out of it
             geomList = (geom,) * self['numStates']
         else:
@@ -145,14 +145,14 @@ class DirectFrame(DirectGuiWidget):
             imageList = (None,) * self['numStates']
         elif isinstance(arg, NodePath) or \
              isinstance(arg, Texture) or \
-             isinstance(arg, stringTypes):
+             isinstance(arg, stringType):
             # Passed in a single node path, make a tuple out of it
             imageList = (arg,) * self['numStates']
         else:
             # Otherwise, hope that the user has passed in a tuple/list
             if ((len(arg) == 2) and
-                isinstance(arg[0], stringTypes) and
-                isinstance(arg[1], stringTypes)):
+                isinstance(arg[0], stringType) and
+                isinstance(arg[1], stringType)):
                 # Its a model/node pair of strings
                 imageList = (arg,) * self['numStates']
             else:
diff --git a/direct/src/gui/DirectGuiBase.py b/direct/src/gui/DirectGuiBase.py
index 95ad70158a..833bf8ebcb 100644
--- a/direct/src/gui/DirectGuiBase.py
+++ b/direct/src/gui/DirectGuiBase.py
@@ -12,6 +12,12 @@ from .OnscreenImage import *
 from direct.directtools.DirectUtil import ROUND_TO
 from direct.showbase import DirectObject
 from direct.task import Task
+import sys
+
+if sys.version_info >= (3, 0):
+    stringType = str
+else:
+    stringType = basestring
 
 guiObjectCollector = PStatCollector("Client::GuiObjects")
 
@@ -943,7 +949,7 @@ class DirectGuiWidget(DirectGuiBase, NodePath):
         # Convert None, and string arguments
         if relief == None:
             relief = PGFrameStyle.TNone
-        elif isinstance(relief, str):
+        elif isinstance(relief, stringType):
             # Convert string to frame style int
             relief = DGG.FrameStyleDict[relief]
         # Set style
@@ -984,14 +990,14 @@ class DirectGuiWidget(DirectGuiBase, NodePath):
         textures = self['frameTexture']
         if textures == None or \
            isinstance(textures, Texture) or \
-           isinstance(textures, str):
+           isinstance(textures, stringType):
             textures = (textures,) * self['numStates']
         for i in range(self['numStates']):
             if i >= len(textures):
                 texture = textures[-1]
             else:
                 texture = textures[i]
-            if isinstance(texture, str):
+            if isinstance(texture, stringType):
                 texture = loader.loadTexture(texture)
             if texture:
                 self.frameStyle[i].setTexture(texture)
diff --git a/direct/src/gui/DirectWaitBar.py b/direct/src/gui/DirectWaitBar.py
index 149540e5d5..a8eb9a56cc 100644
--- a/direct/src/gui/DirectWaitBar.py
+++ b/direct/src/gui/DirectWaitBar.py
@@ -5,7 +5,12 @@ __all__ = ['DirectWaitBar']
 from panda3d.core import *
 from . import DirectGuiGlobals as DGG
 from .DirectFrame import *
-import types
+import sys
+
+if sys.version_info >= (3, 0):
+    stringType = str
+else:
+    stringType = basestring
 
 """
 import DirectWaitBar
@@ -93,7 +98,7 @@ class DirectWaitBar(DirectFrame):
         """Updates the bar texture, which you can set using bar['barTexture']."""
         # this must be a single texture (or a string).
         texture = self['barTexture']
-        if isinstance(texture, str):
+        if isinstance(texture, stringType):
             texture = loader.loadTexture(texture)
         if texture:
             self.barStyle.setTexture(texture)
diff --git a/direct/src/gui/OnscreenGeom.py b/direct/src/gui/OnscreenGeom.py
index ac4f93a418..e1a35a77d1 100644
--- a/direct/src/gui/OnscreenGeom.py
+++ b/direct/src/gui/OnscreenGeom.py
@@ -4,7 +4,12 @@ __all__ = ['OnscreenGeom']
 
 from panda3d.core import *
 from direct.showbase.DirectObject import DirectObject
+import sys
 
+if sys.version_info >= (3, 0):
+    stringType = str
+else:
+    stringType = basestring
 
 class OnscreenGeom(DirectObject, NodePath):
     def __init__(self, geom = None,
@@ -93,7 +98,7 @@ class OnscreenGeom(DirectObject, NodePath):
         # Assign geometry
         if isinstance(geom, NodePath):
             self.assign(geom.copyTo(parent, sort))
-        elif isinstance(geom, str):
+        elif isinstance(geom, stringType):
             self.assign(loader.loadModel(geom))
             self.reparentTo(parent, sort)
 
diff --git a/direct/src/gui/OnscreenImage.py b/direct/src/gui/OnscreenImage.py
index a99d4bf0ff..026076fc69 100644
--- a/direct/src/gui/OnscreenImage.py
+++ b/direct/src/gui/OnscreenImage.py
@@ -4,6 +4,12 @@ __all__ = ['OnscreenImage']
 
 from panda3d.core import *
 from direct.showbase.DirectObject import DirectObject
+import sys
+
+if sys.version_info >= (3, 0):
+    stringType = str
+else:
+    stringType = basestring
 
 
 class OnscreenImage(DirectObject, NodePath):
@@ -95,7 +101,7 @@ class OnscreenImage(DirectObject, NodePath):
         # Assign geometry
         if isinstance(image, NodePath):
             self.assign(image.copyTo(parent, sort))
-        elif isinstance(image, str) or \
+        elif isinstance(image, stringType) or \
              isinstance(image, Texture):
             if isinstance(image, Texture):
                 # It's a Texture