diff --git a/src/p_spec.c b/src/p_spec.c
index cdab17c97..06eee3b12 100644
--- a/src/p_spec.c
+++ b/src/p_spec.c
@@ -4824,7 +4824,7 @@ DoneSection2:
 					if (player->laps >= (UINT8)cv_numlaps.value)
 						CONS_Printf(M_GetText("%s has finished the race.\n"), player_names[player-players]);
 					else if (player->laps == (UINT8)cv_numlaps.value-1)
-						CONS_Printf(M_GetText("%s started the %c%s%c!\n"), player_names[player-players], 0x85, M_GetText("final lap"), 0x80);
+						CONS_Printf(M_GetText("%s started the \205final lap\200!\n"), player_names[player-players]);
 					else
 						CONS_Printf(M_GetText("%s started lap %u\n"), player_names[player-players], (UINT32)player->laps+1);