diff --git a/main/gbc/gbc_read.c b/main/gbc/gbc_read.c
index 4af15843d..6ba78853b 100644
--- a/main/gbc/gbc_read.c
+++ b/main/gbc/gbc_read.c
@@ -977,7 +977,7 @@ static void add_string()
 							i = xdigit_val(get_char_offset(2));
 							if (i >= 0)
 							{
-								car = (car << 4) | i;
+								car = (car << 4) | (uchar)i;
 								*p = car;
 								source_ptr += 2;
 								continue;
diff --git a/main/gbx/gbx_exec_loop.c b/main/gbx/gbx_exec_loop.c
index 2b7bfcf20..d4cbf474d 100644
--- a/main/gbx/gbx_exec_loop.c
+++ b/main/gbx/gbx_exec_loop.c
@@ -717,7 +717,7 @@ _PUSH_INTEGER:
 
 _PUSH_CHAR:
 
-	STRING_char_value(SP, (char)GET_UX());
+	STRING_char_value(SP, GET_UX());
 	SP++;
 	goto _NEXT;
 
diff --git a/main/gbx/gbx_subr_string.c b/main/gbx/gbx_subr_string.c
index 73d61a41f..f43ce5fcc 100644
--- a/main/gbx/gbx_subr_string.c
+++ b/main/gbx/gbx_subr_string.c
@@ -1071,8 +1071,7 @@ __JAVASCRIPT:
 		for (i = 0; i < lstr; i++)
 		{
 			c = str[i];
-			//if (c >= ' ' && c <= 126 && c != '\\' && c != '"')
-			if (c >= ' ' && c != '\\' && c != '\'')
+			if (c >= ' ' && c <= 126 && c != '\\' && c != '\'')
 				STRING_make_char(c);
 			else
 			{
diff --git a/main/lib/eval/eval_read.c b/main/lib/eval/eval_read.c
index 481d6c1ae..cca583c20 100644
--- a/main/lib/eval/eval_read.c
+++ b/main/lib/eval/eval_read.c
@@ -999,7 +999,7 @@ static void add_string()
 							i = xdigit_val(get_char_offset(2));
 							if (i >= 0)
 							{
-								car = (car << 4) | i;
+								car = (car << 4) | (uchar)i;
 								*p = car;
 								source_ptr += 2;
 								continue;
diff --git a/main/share/gb_code.h b/main/share/gb_code.h
index 2e16aa3b3..ac8e1277f 100644
--- a/main/share/gb_code.h
+++ b/main/share/gb_code.h
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ void CODE_dup(void);
 
 void CODE_return(int return_value);
 
-void CODE_push_char(char car);
+void CODE_push_char(uchar car);
 void CODE_push_void(void);
 
 void CODE_subr(short subr, short nparam, short optype, bool fixed);
diff --git a/main/share/gb_code_temp.h b/main/share/gb_code_temp.h
index d490e87b0..da0087881 100644
--- a/main/share/gb_code_temp.h
+++ b/main/share/gb_code_temp.h
@@ -1031,7 +1031,7 @@ void CODE_stop(void)
 #endif /* PROJECT_COMP */
 
 
-void CODE_push_char(char car)
+void CODE_push_char(uchar car)
 {
 	LAST_CODE;