diff --git a/src/chars.c b/src/chars.c
index b3eeb1b5..b6f6586a 100644
--- a/src/chars.c
+++ b/src/chars.c
@@ -261,10 +261,8 @@ char *make_mbchar(long code, int *length)
 
 	*length = wctomb(mb_char, (wchar_t)code);
 
-	if (*length < 0) {
-		IGNORE_CALL_RESULT(wctomb(NULL, 0));
+	if (*length < 0)
 		*length = 0;
-	}
 
 	return mb_char;
 }