diff --git a/src/p_mobj.c b/src/p_mobj.c
index a1edcfe77..373d22730 100644
--- a/src/p_mobj.c
+++ b/src/p_mobj.c
@@ -9837,7 +9837,7 @@ static void P_FlagFuseThink(mobj_t *mobj)
 	if (mobj->type == MT_REDFLAG)
 	{
 		if (!(mobj->flags2 & MF2_JUSTATTACKED))
-			CONS_Printf(M_GetText("The %c%s%c has returned to base.\n"), 0x85, M_GetText("Red flag"), 0x80);
+			CONS_Printf(M_GetText("The \205Red flag\200 has returned to base.\n"));
 
 		// Assumedly in splitscreen players will be on opposing teams
 		if (players[consoleplayer].ctfteam == 1 || splitscreen)
@@ -9850,7 +9850,7 @@ static void P_FlagFuseThink(mobj_t *mobj)
 	else // MT_BLUEFLAG
 	{
 		if (!(mobj->flags2 & MF2_JUSTATTACKED))
-			CONS_Printf(M_GetText("The %c%s%c has returned to base.\n"), 0x84, M_GetText("Blue flag"), 0x80);
+			CONS_Printf(M_GetText("The \204Blue flag\200 has returned to base.\n"));
 
 		// Assumedly in splitscreen players will be on opposing teams
 		if (players[consoleplayer].ctfteam == 2 || splitscreen)
diff --git a/src/p_spec.c b/src/p_spec.c
index 5b9e05c61..f8be40de9 100644
--- a/src/p_spec.c
+++ b/src/p_spec.c
@@ -4604,7 +4604,7 @@ DoneSection2:
 
 					HU_SetCEchoFlags(V_AUTOFADEOUT|V_ALLOWLOWERCASE);
 					HU_SetCEchoDuration(5);
-					HU_DoCEcho(va(M_GetText("%s%s%s\\CAPTURED THE %sBLUE FLAG%s.\\\\\\\\"), "\x85", player_names[player-players], "\x80", "\x84", "\x80"));
+					HU_DoCEcho(va(M_GetText("\205%s\200\\CAPTURED THE \204BLUE FLAG\200.\\\\\\\\"), player_names[player-players]));
 
 					if (splitscreen || players[consoleplayer].ctfteam == 1)
 						S_StartSound(NULL, sfx_flgcap);
@@ -4637,7 +4637,7 @@ DoneSection2:
 
 					HU_SetCEchoFlags(V_AUTOFADEOUT|V_ALLOWLOWERCASE);
 					HU_SetCEchoDuration(5);
-					HU_DoCEcho(va(M_GetText("%s%s%s\\CAPTURED THE %sRED FLAG%s.\\\\\\\\"), "\x84", player_names[player-players], "\x80", "\x85", "\x80"));
+					HU_DoCEcho(va(M_GetText("\204%s\200\\CAPTURED THE \205RED FLAG\200.\\\\\\\\"), player_names[player-players]));
 
 					if (splitscreen || players[consoleplayer].ctfteam == 2)
 						S_StartSound(NULL, sfx_flgcap);
@@ -4827,6 +4827,8 @@ 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 \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);