diff --git a/sortix/vgatextbuffer.cpp b/sortix/vgatextbuffer.cpp
index c949e35c..e14569b7 100644
--- a/sortix/vgatextbuffer.cpp
+++ b/sortix/vgatextbuffer.cpp
@@ -57,10 +57,10 @@ static TextChar EntryToTextChar(uint16_t entry)
 
 static uint16_t CharToTextEntry(TextChar c)
 {
-	return (uint16_t) c.c | (uint16_t) c.vgacolor << 8U;
+	unsigned char uc = c.c;
+	return (uint16_t) uc | (uint16_t) c.vgacolor << 8U;
 }
 
-
 bool VGATextBuffer::UsablePosition(TextPos pos) const
 {
 	return pos.x < width && pos.y < height;