diff --git a/src/win/win_stbar.c b/src/win/win_stbar.c
index eccc45d73..17b01734f 100644
--- a/src/win/win_stbar.c
+++ b/src/win/win_stbar.c
@@ -772,7 +772,7 @@ StatusBarUpdatePanes(void)
 	}
 
 	if (sb_part_icons[i] != -1) {
-		SendMessage(hwndSBAR, SB_SETTEXT, i | SBT_NOBORDERS, (LPARAM)"");
+		SendMessage(hwndSBAR, SB_SETTEXT, i | SBT_NOBORDERS, (LPARAM)L"");
 		SendMessage(hwndSBAR, SB_SETICON, i, (LPARAM)hIcon[sb_part_icons[i]]);
 		SendMessage(hwndSBAR, SB_SETTIPTEXT, i, (LPARAM)sbTips[i]);
 	} else {