diff --git a/src/cmd.cpp b/src/cmd.cpp
index 0eb9db4..1823b8d 100644
--- a/src/cmd.cpp
+++ b/src/cmd.cpp
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ static constexpr size_t strlen_pre_eq(const char* str){
 #define CHECK_VALID_LONG_ARG(opt, off, arg, type) \
 	{ \
 		if(arg[off] != '=' || !is_##type(arg+off+1)){ \
-			fprintf(stderr, L"'--%.*s' requires an argument of type " #type "\n", off, opt); \
+			fprintf(stderr, "'--%.*s' requires an argument of type " #type "\n", off, opt); \
 			ret.error = 1; \
 			break; \
 		} \
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ static constexpr size_t strlen_pre_eq(const char* str){
 #define CHECK_VALID_SHORT_ARG(opt, arg, type) \
 	{ \
 		if(next_arg == argc || !is_##type(arg)){ \
-			fprintf(stderr, L"'-%s' requires an argument of type " #type "\n", opt); \
+			fprintf(stderr, "'-%s' requires an argument of type " #type "\n", opt); \
 			ret.error = 1; \
 			break; \
 		} \
@@ -354,7 +354,7 @@ cmd_args process_cmd_args(int argc, char** argv){
 				default:
 					//keep parsing after error so we can still properly output requested color style
 					ret.error = 1;
-					fprintf(stderr, L"Unrecognized option '-%c'\n", argv[i][j]);
+					fprintf(stderr, "Unrecognized option '-%c'\n", argv[i][j]);
 				};
 			}
 			i = next_arg-1;
@@ -407,7 +407,7 @@ cmd_args process_cmd_args(int argc, char** argv){
 				;
 			}else{
 				ret.error = 1;
-				fprintf(stderr, L"Unrecognized option '%s'\n", argv[i]);
+				fprintf(stderr, "Unrecognized option '%s'\n", argv[i]);
 			}
 		}else{
 			ret.filenames.push_back(argv[i]);
diff --git a/src/roflcat.cpp b/src/roflcat.cpp
index 4072a32..e1bbe1e 100644
--- a/src/roflcat.cpp
+++ b/src/roflcat.cpp
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ static constexpr size_t constexpr_strlen(const char* str){
 static int detect_term_colors(void){
 	int term_colors = 16;
 	if(setupterm(NULL, fileno(stdout), NULL) == ERR){
-		fprintf(stderr, L"could not set up term\n");
+		fprintf(stderr, "could not set up term\n");
 	}else{
 		term_colors = tigetnum("colors");
 		if(term_colors < 0){
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ int print_normal_files(const cmd_args& args){
 			FILE* fp = fopen(args.filenames[i], "r");
 			if(!fp){
 				fflush(stdout); //force color update before error
-				fprintf(stderr, L"Unable to open file %s\n", args.filenames[i]);
+				fprintf(stderr, "Unable to open file %s\n", args.filenames[i]);
 				ret = 2;
 				continue;
 			}
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv){
 	int avail_colors = detect_term_colors();
 
 	if(args.error){
-		fprintf(stderr, L"Try '%s --help' for more information.\n", argv[0]);
+		fprintf(stderr, "Try '%s --help' for more information.\n", argv[0]);
 		return 1;
 	}