diff --git a/stepmania/src/BitmapText.cpp b/stepmania/src/BitmapText.cpp
index d07e9530ac..fb8a706851 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/BitmapText.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/BitmapText.cpp
@@ -219,12 +219,8 @@ void BitmapText::DrawChars()
 	}
 }
 
-/* sText is UTF-8.  If PREFSMAN->m_bUseAlternateText is enabled, and not all
- * of the characters in sText are available in the font, sAlternateText
- * will be used instead.  This is normally enabled; the option exists
- * as a troubleshooting option (so should only be shown in a debug options
- * menu) for the case that a string isn't being displayed, to find out
- * which character is causing problems.  If there are unavailable characters
+/* sText is UTF-8.  If not all of the characters in sText are available in the
+ * font, sAlternateText will be used instead.  If there are unavailable characters
  * in sAlternateText, too, just use sText. */
 void BitmapText::SetText( CString sText, CString sAlternateText )
 {
@@ -249,8 +245,6 @@ bool BitmapText::StringWillUseAlternate(CString sText, CString sAlternateText) c
 {
 	ASSERT( m_pFont );
 
-	if(!PREFSMAN->m_bUseAlternateText) return false;
-
 	/* Can't use the alternate if there isn't one. */
 	if(!sAlternateText.size()) return false;
 
diff --git a/stepmania/src/PrefsManager.cpp b/stepmania/src/PrefsManager.cpp
index a0f8fa1705..03e33f024e 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/PrefsManager.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/PrefsManager.cpp
@@ -69,7 +69,6 @@ PrefsManager::PrefsManager()
 	m_bShowDontDie = true;
 	m_bShowSelectGroup = true;
 	m_bShowTranslations = true;
-	m_bUseAlternateText = true;
 	m_bArcadeOptionsNavigation = false;
 	m_iUnloadTextureDelaySeconds = 0; // disabled 60*30;	// 30 mins
 	m_bCoinOpMode = false;
@@ -149,7 +148,6 @@ void PrefsManager::ReadGlobalPrefsFromDisk( bool bSwitchToLastPlayedGame )
 	ini.GetValueB( "Options", "Caution",					m_bShowDontDie );
 	ini.GetValueB( "Options", "SelectGroup",				m_bShowSelectGroup );
 	ini.GetValueB( "Options", "ShowTranslations",			m_bShowTranslations );
-	ini.GetValueB( "Options", "UseAlternateText",			m_bUseAlternateText );
 	ini.GetValueB( "Options", "ArcadeOptionsNavigation",	m_bArcadeOptionsNavigation );
 	ini.GetValue ( "Options", "DWIPath",					m_DWIPath );
 	ini.GetValueI( "Options", "UnloadTextureDelaySeconds",	m_iUnloadTextureDelaySeconds );
@@ -225,7 +223,6 @@ void PrefsManager::SaveGlobalPrefsToDisk()
 	ini.SetValueB( "Options", "Caution",					m_bShowDontDie );
 	ini.SetValueB( "Options", "SelectGroup",				m_bShowSelectGroup );
 	ini.SetValueB( "Options", "ShowTranslations",			m_bShowTranslations );
-	ini.SetValueB( "Options", "UseAlternateText",			m_bUseAlternateText );
 	ini.SetValueB( "Options", "ArcadeOptionsNavigation",	m_bArcadeOptionsNavigation );
 	ini.SetValue ( "Options", "DWIPath",					m_DWIPath );
 	ini.SetValueI( "Options", "UnloadTextureDelaySeconds",	m_iUnloadTextureDelaySeconds );
diff --git a/stepmania/src/PrefsManager.h b/stepmania/src/PrefsManager.h
index 9e025f972a..2c378b7a86 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/PrefsManager.h
+++ b/stepmania/src/PrefsManager.h
@@ -53,7 +53,6 @@ public:
 	bool			m_bDelayedEscape;
 	bool			m_bInstructions, m_bShowDontDie, m_bShowSelectGroup;
 	bool			m_bShowTranslations;
-	bool			m_bUseAlternateText;
 	bool			m_bArcadeOptionsNavigation;
 	bool			m_bCoinOpMode;
 	enum			{ NEVER, ALWAYS, ABC_ONLY } m_MusicWheelUsesSections;