diff --git a/src/files.c b/src/files.c
index 7ae1389e..a8a37cc9 100644
--- a/src/files.c
+++ b/src/files.c
@@ -781,7 +781,7 @@ void read_file(FILE *f, int fd, const char *filename, bool undoable)
 
 	/* If there was a real error during the reading, let the user know. */
 	if (ferror(f) && errornumber != EINTR && errornumber != 0)
-		statusline(ALERT, strerror(errornumber));
+		statusline(ALERT, "%s", strerror(errornumber));
 
 	if (control_C_was_pressed)
 		statusline(ALERT, _("Interrupted"));
diff --git a/src/winio.c b/src/winio.c
index 14855f48..8f4d790d 100644
--- a/src/winio.c
+++ b/src/winio.c
@@ -2421,7 +2421,7 @@ void statusbar(const char *msg)
 void warn_and_briefly_pause(const char *msg)
 {
 	blank_bottombars();
-	statusline(ALERT, msg);
+	statusline(ALERT, "%s", msg);
 	lastmessage = VACUUM;
 	napms(1500);
 }