diff --git a/mpv.py b/mpv.py
index 0fa43a2..3916462 100644
--- a/mpv.py
+++ b/mpv.py
@@ -620,7 +620,8 @@ ALL_PROPERTIES = {
 
 def bindproperty(MPV, name, proptype, access):
     def getter(self):
-        return proptype(_ensure_encoding(_mpv_get_property_string(self.handle, name.encode())))
+        value = _ensure_encoding(_mpv_get_property_string(self.handle, name.encode()))
+        return proptype(value) if value is not None else value
     def setter(self, value):
         _mpv_set_property_string(self.handle, name.encode(), str(proptype(value)).encode())
     def barf(*args):