diff --git a/lisp/gnus/nnmail.el b/lisp/gnus/nnmail.el
index e8f157392d4..904b564409a 100644
--- a/lisp/gnus/nnmail.el
+++ b/lisp/gnus/nnmail.el
@@ -667,7 +667,9 @@ nn*-request-list should have been called before calling this function."
 		  (cond ((symbolp group)
 			 (symbol-name group))
 			((numberp group)
-			 (number-to-string group))))
+			 (number-to-string group))
+                        ((stringp group)
+			 group)))
 	    (if (and (numberp (setq max (read buffer)))
 		     (numberp (setq min (read buffer))))
 		(push (list group (cons min max))