diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index cdd148ea..7de00287 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+# ---- ignore special files written during config setup
+tk-metadata
+
+# Byte-compiled / optimized / DLL files
 *.py[cod]
 
 # C extensions
diff --git a/python/tk_multi_workfiles/step_list_filter.py b/python/tk_multi_workfiles/step_list_filter.py
index baadfaf1..8b3e4b05 100644
--- a/python/tk_multi_workfiles/step_list_filter.py
+++ b/python/tk_multi_workfiles/step_list_filter.py
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ def _ensure_widgets_for_entity_type(self, entity_type):
                 # color otherwise it is too bright.
                 color = [int(x) for x in step["color"].split(",")] + [200]
                 pixmap.fill(QtGui.QColor(*color))
-                widget.setIcon(pixmap)
+                widget.setIcon(QtGui.QIcon(pixmap))
             # Turn it on if it was in the step saved filters
             # We do this before the toggled signal is connected to not emit
             # un-wanted signals.