diff --git a/src/caca.c b/src/caca.c
index c4817ac..abac53c 100644
--- a/src/caca.c
+++ b/src/caca.c
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 #if defined(HAVE_INTTYPES_H) || defined(_DOXYGEN_SKIP_ME)
 #   include <inttypes.h>
 #else
+typedef unsigned int uint32_t;
 typedef unsigned char uint8_t;
 #endif
 
diff --git a/src/char.c b/src/char.c
index a428449..e64bc31 100644
--- a/src/char.c
+++ b/src/char.c
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 #if defined(HAVE_INTTYPES_H) || defined(_DOXYGEN_SKIP_ME)
 #   include <inttypes.h>
 #else
+typedef unsigned int uint32_t;
 typedef unsigned char uint8_t;
 #endif
 
@@ -101,7 +102,7 @@ void cucul_putchar(cucul_t *qq, int x, int y, char c)
        y < 0 || y >= (int)qq->height)
         return;
 
-    qq->chars[x + y * qq->width] = c;
+    qq->chars[x + y * qq->width] = c & 0x7f; /* FIXME: ASCII-only */
     qq->attr[x + y * qq->width] = (qq->bgcolor << 4) | qq->fgcolor;
 }
 
@@ -118,8 +119,8 @@ void cucul_putchar(cucul_t *qq, int x, int y, char c)
  */
 void cucul_putstr(cucul_t *qq, int x, int y, char const *s)
 {
-    unsigned char *charbuf;
-    unsigned char *attrbuf;
+    uint32_t *chars;
+    uint8_t *attr;
     char const *t;
     unsigned int len;
 
@@ -145,13 +146,13 @@ void cucul_putstr(cucul_t *qq, int x, int y, char const *s)
         s = qq->scratch_line;
     }
 
-    charbuf = qq->chars + x + y * qq->width;
-    attrbuf = qq->attr + x + y * qq->width;
+    chars = qq->chars + x + y * qq->width;
+    attr = qq->attr + x + y * qq->width;
     t = s;
     while(*t)
     {
-        *charbuf++ = *t++;
-        *attrbuf++ = (qq->bgcolor << 4) | qq->fgcolor;
+        *chars++ = *t++ & 0x7f; /* FIXME: ASCII-only */
+        *attr++ = (qq->bgcolor << 4) | qq->fgcolor;
     }
 }
 
@@ -208,7 +209,7 @@ void cucul_get_screen(cucul_t *qq, char *buffer)
         for(x = 0; x < qq->width; x++)
         {
             *buffer++ = qq->attr[x + y * qq->width];
-            *buffer++ = qq->chars[x + y * qq->width];
+            *buffer++ = qq->chars[x + y * qq->width] & 0x7f; /* FIXME: ASCII */
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/cucul.c b/src/cucul.c
index 01c48ce..a9ecbf1 100644
--- a/src/cucul.c
+++ b/src/cucul.c
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 #if defined(HAVE_INTTYPES_H) || defined(_DOXYGEN_SKIP_ME)
 #   include <inttypes.h>
 #else
+typedef unsigned int uint32_t;
 typedef unsigned char uint8_t;
 #endif
 
@@ -46,6 +47,7 @@ static void cucul_read_environment(cucul_t *qq);
 cucul_t * cucul_init(void)
 {
     cucul_t *qq = malloc(sizeof(cucul_t));
+    int i;
 
     cucul_read_environment(qq);
 
@@ -57,10 +59,11 @@ cucul_t * cucul_init(void)
     qq->width = 80;
     qq->height = 32;
 
-    qq->chars = malloc(qq->width * qq->height * sizeof(uint8_t));
+    qq->chars = malloc(qq->width * qq->height * sizeof(uint32_t));
     qq->attr = malloc(qq->width * qq->height * sizeof(uint8_t));
 
-    memset(qq->chars, ' ', qq->width * qq->height * sizeof(uint8_t));
+    for(i = qq->width * qq->height; i--; )
+        qq->chars[i] = (uint32_t)' ';
     memset(qq->attr, 0, qq->width * qq->height * sizeof(uint8_t));
 
     qq->empty_line = malloc(qq->width + 1);
@@ -100,7 +103,7 @@ void cucul_set_size(cucul_t *qq, unsigned int width, unsigned int height)
     /* Step 1: if new area is bigger, resize the memory area now. */
     if(new_size > old_size)
     {
-        qq->chars = realloc(qq->chars, new_size * sizeof(uint8_t));
+        qq->chars = realloc(qq->chars, new_size * sizeof(uint32_t));
         qq->attr = realloc(qq->attr, new_size * sizeof(uint8_t));
     }
 
@@ -124,8 +127,8 @@ void cucul_set_size(cucul_t *qq, unsigned int width, unsigned int height)
             }
 
             /* Zero the end of the line */
-            memset(qq->chars + y * width + old_width, ' ',
-                   width - old_width);
+            for(x = width - old_width; x--; )
+                qq->chars[y * width + old_width + x] = (uint32_t)' ';
             memset(qq->attr + y * width + old_width, 0,
                    width - old_width);
         }
@@ -150,14 +153,16 @@ void cucul_set_size(cucul_t *qq, unsigned int width, unsigned int height)
     if(height > old_height)
     {
         /* Zero the bottom of the screen */
-        memset(qq->chars + old_height * width, ' ',
+        for(x = (height - old_height) * width; x--; )
+            qq->chars[old_height * width + x] = (uint32_t)' ';
+        memset(qq->attr + old_height * width, 0,
                (height - old_height) * width);
     }
 
     /* Step 4: if new area is smaller, resize memory area now. */
     if(new_size <= old_size)
     {
-        qq->chars = realloc(qq->chars, new_size * sizeof(uint8_t));
+        qq->chars = realloc(qq->chars, new_size * sizeof(uint32_t));
         qq->attr = realloc(qq->attr, new_size * sizeof(uint8_t));
     }
 
diff --git a/src/cucul_internals.h b/src/cucul_internals.h
index 01cd9ab..005204e 100644
--- a/src/cucul_internals.h
+++ b/src/cucul_internals.h
@@ -25,7 +25,8 @@ struct cucul_context
     /* Context size */
     unsigned int width, height;
 
-    uint8_t *chars, *attr;
+    uint32_t *chars;
+    uint8_t *attr;
     uint8_t *empty_line, *scratch_line;
 
     enum cucul_color fgcolor;
diff --git a/src/export.c b/src/export.c
index e69b69d..9ab81a8 100644
--- a/src/export.c
+++ b/src/export.c
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 #if defined(HAVE_INTTYPES_H) || defined(_DOXYGEN_SKIP_ME)
 #   include <inttypes.h>
 #else
+typedef unsigned int uint32_t;
 typedef unsigned char uint8_t;
 #endif
 
@@ -74,7 +75,7 @@ char* cucul_get_html(cucul_t *qq)
     for(y = 0; y < qq->height; y++)
     {
         uint8_t *lineattr = qq->attr + y * qq->width;
-        uint8_t *linechar = qq->chars + y * qq->width;
+        uint32_t *linechar = qq->chars + y * qq->width;
 
         for(x = 0; x < qq->width; x += len)
         {
@@ -84,10 +85,10 @@ char* cucul_get_html(cucul_t *qq)
                 x + len < qq->width && lineattr[x + len] == lineattr[x];
                 len++)
             {
-                if(linechar[x + len] == ' ')
+                if(linechar[x + len] == (uint32_t)' ')
                     cur += sprintf(cur, "&nbsp;");
                 else
-                    cur += sprintf(cur, "%c", linechar[x + len]);
+                    cur += sprintf(cur, "%c", linechar[x + len] & 0x7f);
             }
             cur += sprintf(cur, "</span>");
         }
@@ -135,7 +136,7 @@ char* cucul_get_html3(cucul_t *qq)
     for(y = 0; y < qq->height; y++)
     {
         uint8_t *lineattr = qq->attr + y * qq->width;
-        uint8_t *linechar = qq->chars + y * qq->width;
+        uint32_t *linechar = qq->chars + y * qq->width;
 
         cur += sprintf(cur, "<tr>");
 
@@ -159,10 +160,10 @@ char* cucul_get_html3(cucul_t *qq)
 
             for(i = 0; i < len; i++)
             {
-                if(linechar[x + i] == ' ')
+                if(linechar[x + i] == (uint32_t)' ')
                     cur += sprintf(cur, "&nbsp;");
                 else
-                    cur += sprintf(cur, "%c", linechar[x + i]);
+                    cur += sprintf(cur, "%c", linechar[x + i] & 0x7f);
             }
 
             cur += sprintf(cur, "</font></td>");
@@ -210,7 +211,7 @@ char* cucul_get_irc(cucul_t *qq)
     for(y = 0; y < qq->height; y++)
     {
         uint8_t *lineattr = qq->attr + y * qq->width;
-        uint8_t *linechar = qq->chars + y * qq->width;
+        uint32_t *linechar = qq->chars + y * qq->width;
 
         uint8_t prevfg = -1;
         uint8_t prevbg = -1;
@@ -219,18 +220,18 @@ char* cucul_get_irc(cucul_t *qq)
         {
             uint8_t fg = palette[lineattr[x] & 0x0f];
             uint8_t bg = palette[lineattr[x] >> 4];
-            uint8_t c = linechar[x];
+            uint32_t c = linechar[x];
 
             if(bg == prevbg)
             {
                 if(fg == prevfg)
                     ; /* Same fg/bg, do nothing */
-                else if(c == ' ')
+                else if(c == (uint32_t)' ')
                     fg = prevfg; /* Hackety hack */
                 else
                 {
                     cur += sprintf(cur, "\x03%d", fg);
-                    if(c >= '0' && c <= '9')
+                    if(c >= (uint32_t)'0' && c <= (uint32_t)'9')
                         cur += sprintf(cur, "\x02\x02");
                 }
             }
@@ -241,10 +242,10 @@ char* cucul_get_irc(cucul_t *qq)
                 else
                     cur += sprintf(cur, "\x03%d,%d", fg, bg);
 
-                if(c >= '0' && c <= '9')
+                if(c >= (uint32_t)'0' && c <= (uint32_t)'9')
                     cur += sprintf(cur, "\x02\x02");
             }
-            *cur++ = c;
+            *cur++ = c & 0x7f;
             prevfg = fg;
             prevbg = bg;
         }
@@ -289,7 +290,7 @@ char * cucul_get_ansi(cucul_t *qq, int trailing)
     for(y = 0; y < qq->height; y++)
     {
         uint8_t *lineattr = qq->attr + y * qq->width;
-        uint8_t *linechar = qq->chars + y * qq->width;
+        uint32_t *linechar = qq->chars + y * qq->width;
 
         uint8_t prevfg = -1;
         uint8_t prevbg = -1;
@@ -298,7 +299,7 @@ char * cucul_get_ansi(cucul_t *qq, int trailing)
         {
             uint8_t fg = palette[lineattr[x] & 0x0f];
             uint8_t bg = (palette[lineattr[x] >> 4])+10;
-            uint8_t c = linechar[x];
+            uint32_t c = linechar[x];
 
             if(!trailing)
                 cur += sprintf(cur, "\033[");
@@ -309,9 +310,9 @@ char * cucul_get_ansi(cucul_t *qq, int trailing)
                 cur += sprintf(cur, "1;%d;%dm",fg,bg);
             else
                 cur += sprintf(cur, "0;%d;%dm",fg,bg);
-            *cur++ = c;
+            *cur++ = c & 0x7f;
             if((c == '%') && trailing)
-                *cur++ = c;
+                *cur++ = c & 0x7f;
             prevfg = fg;
             prevbg = bg;
         }
diff --git a/src/graphics.c b/src/graphics.c
index 4c66235..fca4808 100644
--- a/src/graphics.c
+++ b/src/graphics.c
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@
 #if defined(HAVE_INTTYPES_H) || defined(_DOXYGEN_SKIP_ME)
 #   include <inttypes.h>
 #else
+typedef unsigned int uint32_t;
 typedef unsigned char uint8_t;
 #endif
 
@@ -879,7 +880,7 @@ void caca_display(caca_t *kk)
     {
         int x, y;
         uint8_t *attr = kk->qq->attr;
-        uint8_t *chars = kk->qq->chars;
+        uint32_t *chars = kk->qq->chars;
         for(y = 0; y < (int)kk->qq->height; y++)
         {
             SLsmg_gotorc(y, 0);
@@ -893,7 +894,7 @@ void caca_display(caca_t *kk)
                 if(fgcolor != bgcolor)
                 {
                     SLsmg_set_color(slang_assoc[*attr++]);
-                    SLsmg_write_char(*chars++);
+                    SLsmg_write_char(*chars++ & 0x7f);
                 }
                 else
                 {
@@ -911,7 +912,7 @@ void caca_display(caca_t *kk)
                 }
 #else
                 SLsmg_set_color(*attr++);
-                SLsmg_write_char(*chars++);
+                SLsmg_write_char(*chars++ & 0x7f);
 #endif
             }
         }
@@ -924,14 +925,14 @@ void caca_display(caca_t *kk)
     {
         int x, y;
         uint8_t *attr = kk->qq->attr;
-        uint8_t *chars = kk->qq->chars;
+        uint32_t *chars = kk->qq->chars;
         for(y = 0; y < (int)kk->qq->height; y++)
         {
             move(y, 0);
             for(x = kk->qq->width; x--; )
             {
                 attrset(kk->ncurses.attr[*attr++]);
-                addch(*chars++);
+                addch(*chars++ & 0x7f);
             }
         }
         refresh();
@@ -944,10 +945,10 @@ void caca_display(caca_t *kk)
         int n;
         char *screen = kk->conio.screen;
         uint8_t *attr = kk->qq->attr;
-        uint8_t *chars = kk->qq->chars;
+        uint32_t *chars = kk->qq->chars;
         for(n = kk->qq->height * kk->qq->width; n--; )
         {
-            *screen++ = *chars++;
+            *screen++ = *chars++ & 0x7f;
             *screen++ = *attr++;
         }
 #   if defined(SCREENUPDATE_IN_PC_H)
@@ -989,22 +990,30 @@ void caca_display(caca_t *kk)
         {
             for(x = 0; x < kk->qq->width; x += len)
             {
+                char buffer[BUFSIZ]; /* FIXME: use a smaller buffer */
+                uint32_t *chars = kk->qq->chars + x + y * kk->qq->width;
                 uint8_t *attr = kk->qq->attr + x + y * kk->qq->width;
 
                 len = 1;
 
                 /* Skip spaces */
-                if(kk->qq->chars[x + y * kk->qq->width] == ' ')
+                if(chars[0] == ' ')
                     continue;
 
+                buffer[0] = chars[0] & 0x7f;
+
                 while(x + len < kk->qq->width
                        && (attr[len] & 0xf) == (attr[0] & 0xf))
+                {
+                    buffer[len] = chars[len] & 0x7f;
                     len++;
+                }
 
                 XSetForeground(kk->x11.dpy, kk->x11.gc, kk->x11.colors[attr[0] & 0xf]);
-                XDrawString(kk->x11.dpy, kk->x11.pixmap, kk->x11.gc, x * kk->x11.font_width,
+                XDrawString(kk->x11.dpy, kk->x11.pixmap, kk->x11.gc,
+                            x * kk->x11.font_width,
                             (y + 1) * kk->x11.font_height - kk->x11.font_offset,
-                            (char*)(kk->qq->chars + x + y * kk->qq->width), len);
+                            buffer, len);
             }
         }
 
@@ -1025,7 +1034,7 @@ void caca_display(caca_t *kk)
         /* Render everything to our back buffer */
         for(i = 0; i < kk->qq->width * kk->qq->height; i++)
         {
-            kk->win32.buffer[i].Char.AsciiChar = kk->qq->chars[i];
+            kk->win32.buffer[i].Char.AsciiChar = kk->qq->chars[i] & 0x7f;
             kk->win32.buffer[i].Attributes =
                     win32_fg_palette[kk->qq->attr[i] & 0xf]
                      | win32_bg_palette[kk->qq->attr[i] >> 4];
@@ -1080,13 +1089,16 @@ void caca_display(caca_t *kk)
         for(y = 0; y < kk->gl.height; y += kk->gl.font_height)
         {
             uint8_t *attr = kk->qq->attr + line * kk->qq->width;
-            unsigned char *chars = kk->qq->chars + line * kk->qq->width;
+            uint32_t *chars = kk->qq->chars + line * kk->qq->width;
 
             for(x = 0; x < kk->gl.width; x += kk->gl.font_width)
             {
-                if(chars[0] != ' ')
+                if(*chars != (uint32_t)' ')
                 {
-                    glBindTexture(GL_TEXTURE_2D, kk->gl.id[chars[0]-32]);
+                    char ch = *chars & 0x7f;
+
+                    /* FIXME: check ch bounds */
+                    glBindTexture(GL_TEXTURE_2D, kk->gl.id[ch - 32]);
                     glColor4bv(gl_bgpal[attr[0] & 0xf]);
                     glBegin(GL_QUADS);
                         glTexCoord2f(0, kk->gl.sh);