diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index 0837626..684015e 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -5,6 +5,11 @@ ubuntu-dev-tools (0.185) UNRELEASED; urgency=medium
     + Fix crash due to PersonalPackageArchiveSourcePackage() returning the
       wrong object when requesting a download url.  LP: #1938659
 
+  [ Brian Murray ]
+  * import-bug-from-debian:
+    + Don't create a bug description with email.message.Message objects.
+      Closes #969510
+
  -- Mattia Rizzolo <mattia@debian.org>  Wed, 04 Aug 2021 11:59:05 +0200
 
 ubuntu-dev-tools (0.184) experimental; urgency=medium
diff --git a/import-bug-from-debian b/import-bug-from-debian
index 9aeac46..fccf395 100755
--- a/import-bug-from-debian
+++ b/import-bug-from-debian
@@ -102,6 +102,10 @@ def main():
         subject = bug.subject
         log = debianbts.get_bug_log(bug_num)
         summary = log[0]['message'].get_payload()
+        if isinstance(log[0]['message'].get_payload(), str):
+            summary = log[0]['message'].get_payload()
+        else:
+            summary = log[0]['message'].get_payload()[0].get_payload()
         target = ubuntu.getSourcePackage(name=ubupackage)
         if target is None:
             Logger.error("Source package '%s' is not in Ubuntu. Please specify "