diff --git a/2d/font.c b/2d/font.c
index 8138b3ab8..da5e7675a 100644
--- a/2d/font.c
+++ b/2d/font.c
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ int gr_internal_string0(int x, int y, char *s )
 
 				get_char_width(text_ptr[0],text_ptr[1],&width,&spacing);
 
-				letter = *text_ptr-FMINCHAR;
+				letter = (unsigned char)*text_ptr-FMINCHAR;
 
 				if (!INFONT(letter)) {	//not in font, draw as space
 					VideoOffset += spacing;
@@ -303,9 +303,9 @@ int gr_internal_string0m(int x, int y, char *s )
 
 				get_char_width(text_ptr[0],text_ptr[1],&width,&spacing);
 
-				letter = *text_ptr-FMINCHAR;
+				letter = (unsigned char)*text_ptr-FMINCHAR;
 
-				if (!INFONT(letter) || *text_ptr<=0x06) {	//not in font, draw as space
+				if (!INFONT(letter) || (unsigned char)*text_ptr<=0x06) {	//not in font, draw as space
 					CHECK_EMBEDDED_COLORS() else{
 						VideoOffset += spacing;
 						text_ptr++;
@@ -413,7 +413,7 @@ int gr_internal_string2(int x, int y, char *s )
 
 				Assert(width==spacing);		//no kerning support here
 
-				letter = *text_ptr-FMINCHAR;
+				letter = (unsigned char)*text_ptr-FMINCHAR;
 
 				if (!INFONT(letter)) {	//not in font, draw as space
 					VideoOffset += spacing;
@@ -616,7 +616,7 @@ int gr_internal_string2m(int x, int y, char *s )
 
 				get_char_width(text_ptr[0],text_ptr[1],&width,&spacing);
 
-				letter = *text_ptr-FMINCHAR;
+				letter = (unsigned char)*text_ptr-FMINCHAR;
 
 				if (!INFONT(letter)) {	//not in font, draw as space
 					VideoOffset += width;
@@ -764,7 +764,7 @@ int gr_internal_color_string(int x, int y, char *s )
 				break;
 			}
 
-			letter = *text_ptr-FMINCHAR;
+			letter = (unsigned char)*text_ptr-FMINCHAR;
 
 			get_char_width(text_ptr[0],text_ptr[1],&width,&spacing);
 
@@ -1005,11 +1005,11 @@ int ogl_internal_string(int x, int y, char *s )
 				break;
 			}
 
-			letter = *text_ptr-FMINCHAR;
+			letter = (unsigned char)*text_ptr-FMINCHAR;
 
 			get_char_width(text_ptr[0],text_ptr[1],&width,&spacing);
 
-			if (!INFONT(letter) || *text_ptr<=0x06) {	//not in font, draw as space
+			if (!INFONT(letter) || (unsigned char)*text_ptr<=0x06) {	//not in font, draw as space
 				CHECK_EMBEDDED_COLORS() else{
 					xx += spacing;
 					text_ptr++;
@@ -1405,7 +1405,7 @@ int gr_internal_string_clipped(int x, int y, char *s )
 
 				get_char_width(text_ptr[0],text_ptr[1],&width,&spacing);
 
-				letter = *text_ptr-FMINCHAR;
+				letter = (unsigned char)*text_ptr-FMINCHAR;
 
 				if (!INFONT(letter)) {	//not in font, draw as space
 					x += spacing;
@@ -1494,7 +1494,7 @@ int gr_internal_string_clipped_m(int x, int y, char *s )
 
 				get_char_width(text_ptr[0],text_ptr[1],&width,&spacing);
 
-				letter = *text_ptr-FMINCHAR;
+				letter = (unsigned char)*text_ptr-FMINCHAR;
 
 				if (!INFONT(letter)) {	//not in font, draw as space
 					x += spacing;
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.txt b/CHANGELOG.txt
index 4067f5170..01a6385fa 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.txt
+++ b/CHANGELOG.txt
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ D1X-Rebirth Changelog
 --------
 main/network.c: fix typo causing compiler error on bigendian computers
 2d/font.c, 2d/pcx.c, 3d/interp.c, cfile/cfile.c, include/cfile.h, include/pstypes.h, main/bm.c, main/cntrlcen.c, main/cntrlcen.h, main/custom.c, main/custom.h, main/effects.c, main/effects.h, main/fuelcen.c, main/fuelcen.h, main/gamemine.c, main/gamesave.c, main/loadrl2.c, main/newdemo.c, main/piggy.c, main/piggy.h, main/playsave.c, main/polyobj.c, main/powerup.c, main/powerup.h, main/robot.c, main/robot.h, main/scores.c, main/switch.c, main/switch.h, main/vclip.c, main/vclip.h, main/wall.c, main/wall.h, main/weapon.c, main/weapon.h: complete bigendian support, without touching network code
+2d/font.c: make special characters print for platforms where a char is signed by default
 
 20080110
 --------