diff --git a/stepmania/src/arch/LoadingWindow/LoadingWindow_Cocoa.mm b/stepmania/src/arch/LoadingWindow/LoadingWindow_Cocoa.mm
index c2015505c7..147e53f34a 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/arch/LoadingWindow/LoadingWindow_Cocoa.mm
+++ b/stepmania/src/arch/LoadingWindow/LoadingWindow_Cocoa.mm
@@ -55,7 +55,9 @@ void DisposeOfCocoaWindow()
 
 void SetCocoaWindowText(const char *s)
 {
-	[text setString:[NSString stringWithCString:s]];
+	NSString *str = [NSString stringWithUTF8String:s];
+	
+	[text setString:(str ? str : @"" )];
 	[text display];
 }