diff --git a/Source/Core/Core/Src/Core.cpp b/Source/Core/Core/Src/Core.cpp
index bd4267c074..a8f2349c0a 100644
--- a/Source/Core/Core/Src/Core.cpp
+++ b/Source/Core/Core/Src/Core.cpp
@@ -73,6 +73,8 @@
 #include "State.h"
 #include "Movie.h"
 
+#include <ctype.h>
+
 // TODO: ugly, remove
 bool g_aspect_wide;
 
@@ -129,11 +131,18 @@ void DisplayMessage(const char *message, int time_in_ms)
 	SCoreStartupParameter& _CoreParameter =
 		SConfig::GetInstance().m_LocalCoreStartupParameter;
 
+	// Actually displaying non-ASCII could cause things to go pear-shaped
+	if (!isascii(message))
+		return;
+
 	g_video_backend->Video_AddMessage(message, time_in_ms);
+	
 	if (_CoreParameter.bRenderToMain &&
-		SConfig::GetInstance().m_InterfaceStatusbar) {
-			Host_UpdateStatusBar(message);
-	} else
+		SConfig::GetInstance().m_InterfaceStatusbar)
+	{
+		Host_UpdateStatusBar(message);
+	}
+	else
 		Host_UpdateTitle(message);
 }
 
diff --git a/Source/Core/DolphinWX/Src/FrameTools.cpp b/Source/Core/DolphinWX/Src/FrameTools.cpp
index eafebe131f..4da736bbaa 100644
--- a/Source/Core/DolphinWX/Src/FrameTools.cpp
+++ b/Source/Core/DolphinWX/Src/FrameTools.cpp
@@ -632,12 +632,12 @@ void CFrame::BootGame(const std::string& filename)
 				bootfile = m_GameListCtrl->GetSelectedISO()->GetFileName();
 		}
 		else if (!StartUp.m_strDefaultGCM.empty()
-				&&	wxFileExists(wxString(StartUp.m_strDefaultGCM.c_str(), wxConvUTF8)))
+				&&	wxFileExists(wxSafeConvertMB2WX(StartUp.m_strDefaultGCM.c_str())))
 			bootfile = StartUp.m_strDefaultGCM;
 		else
 		{
 			if (!SConfig::GetInstance().m_LastFilename.empty()
-					&& wxFileExists(wxString(SConfig::GetInstance().m_LastFilename.c_str(), wxConvUTF8)))
+					&& wxFileExists(wxSafeConvertMB2WX(SConfig::GetInstance().m_LastFilename.c_str())))
 				bootfile = SConfig::GetInstance().m_LastFilename;
 			else
 			{
@@ -1646,7 +1646,7 @@ void CFrame::UpdateGUI()
 			}
 			// Prepare to load last selected file, enable play button
 			else if (!SConfig::GetInstance().m_LastFilename.empty()
-					&& wxFileExists(wxString(SConfig::GetInstance().m_LastFilename.c_str(), wxConvUTF8)))
+					&& wxFileExists(wxSafeConvertMB2WX(SConfig::GetInstance().m_LastFilename.c_str())))
 			{
 				if (m_ToolBar)
 					m_ToolBar->EnableTool(IDM_PLAY, true);