diff --git a/gnucash/report/report-system/report-utilities.scm b/gnucash/report/report-system/report-utilities.scm
index 9961a6a378..10cee27df1 100644
--- a/gnucash/report/report-system/report-utilities.scm
+++ b/gnucash/report/report-system/report-utilities.scm
@@ -1200,15 +1200,8 @@ flawed. see report-utilities.scm. please update reports.")
     (format #f "[~a]"
             (gnc:monetary->string mon)))
   (define (owner->str owner)
-    (define owner-alist
-      (list (cons GNC-OWNER-NONE "None")
-            (cons GNC-OWNER-UNDEFINED "Undefined")
-            (cons GNC-OWNER-JOB "Job")
-            (cons GNC-OWNER-CUSTOMER "Cust")
-            (cons GNC-OWNER-VENDOR "Vend")
-            (cons GNC-OWNER-EMPLOYEE "Emp")))
     (format #f "[~a:~a]"
-            (or (assv-ref owner-alist (gncOwnerGetType owner)) "Owner")
+            (gncOwnerGetTypeString owner)
             (gncOwnerGetName owner)))
   (define (invoice->str inv)
     (format #f "~a<Post:~a,Owner:~a,Notes:~a,Total:~a>"
diff --git a/libgnucash/engine/gncOwner.c b/libgnucash/engine/gncOwner.c
index 53e648edb9..93a8211e57 100644
--- a/libgnucash/engine/gncOwner.c
+++ b/libgnucash/engine/gncOwner.c
@@ -204,6 +204,29 @@ GncOwnerType gncOwnerGetType (const GncOwner *owner)
     return owner->type;
 }
 
+const char * gncOwnerGetTypeString (const GncOwner *owner)
+{
+    GncOwnerType type = gncOwnerGetType(owner);
+    switch (type)
+    {
+    case GNC_OWNER_NONE:
+        return "None";
+    case GNC_OWNER_UNDEFINED:
+        return "Undefined";
+    case GNC_OWNER_CUSTOMER:
+        return "Customer";
+    case GNC_OWNER_JOB:
+        return "Job";
+    case GNC_OWNER_VENDOR:
+        return "Vendor";
+    case GNC_OWNER_EMPLOYEE:
+        return "Employee";
+    default:
+        PWARN ("Unknown owner type");
+        return NULL;
+    }
+}
+
 QofIdTypeConst
 qofOwnerGetType(const GncOwner *owner)
 {
diff --git a/libgnucash/engine/gncOwner.h b/libgnucash/engine/gncOwner.h
index 28251ac335..c66d60fe5a 100644
--- a/libgnucash/engine/gncOwner.h
+++ b/libgnucash/engine/gncOwner.h
@@ -65,6 +65,8 @@ to QOF as they can be used by objects like GncInvoice.
 */
 /** return the type for the collection. */
 QofIdTypeConst qofOwnerGetType(const GncOwner *owner);
+/** return the type for the owner as an untranslated string. */
+const char * gncOwnerGetTypeString (const GncOwner *owner);
 /** return the owner itself as an entity. */
 QofInstance* qofOwnerGetOwner (const GncOwner *owner);
 /** set the owner from the entity. */