diff --git a/src/fe-text/gui-entry.c b/src/fe-text/gui-entry.c
index 6c265b51..0c3fce98 100644
--- a/src/fe-text/gui-entry.c
+++ b/src/fe-text/gui-entry.c
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ static void gui_entry_draw_from(GUI_ENTRY_REC *entry, int pos)
 
 		if (entry->hidden)
                         term_addch(root_window, ' ');
-		else if (*p >= 32 && (*p < 0x7F || *p > 0x9F))
+		else if (IS_PRINTABLE(*p))
 			term_add_unichar(root_window, *p);
 		else {
 			term_set_color(root_window, ATTR_RESET|ATTR_REVERSE);
diff --git a/src/fe-text/statusbar.c b/src/fe-text/statusbar.c
index 9f1b09b0..2e54f067 100644
--- a/src/fe-text/statusbar.c
+++ b/src/fe-text/statusbar.c
@@ -661,9 +661,7 @@ static char *reverse_controls(const char *str)
 	out = g_string_new(NULL);
 
 	while (*str != '\0') {
-		if ((unsigned char) *str < 32 ||
-		    (term_type == TERM_TYPE_8BIT &&
-		     (unsigned char) (*str & 0x7f) < 32)) {
+		if (!IS_PRINTABLE((unsigned char) *str)) {
 			/* control char */
 			g_string_sprintfa(out, "%%8%c%%8",
 					  'A'-1 + (*str & 0x7f));
diff --git a/src/fe-text/term.h b/src/fe-text/term.h
index b5103c14..07d917c8 100644
--- a/src/fe-text/term.h
+++ b/src/fe-text/term.h
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ typedef struct _TERM_WINDOW TERM_WINDOW;
 
 typedef guint32 unichar;
 
+#define IS_PRINTABLE(c) (((c) & ~0x80) >= 32)
+
 extern TERM_WINDOW *root_window;
 extern int term_width, term_height;
 extern int term_use_colors, term_type, term_detached;
diff --git a/src/fe-text/textbuffer-view.c b/src/fe-text/textbuffer-view.c
index 8ffbfcd8..93b21966 100644
--- a/src/fe-text/textbuffer-view.c
+++ b/src/fe-text/textbuffer-view.c
@@ -451,7 +451,7 @@ static int view_line_draw(TEXT_BUFFER_VIEW_REC *view, LINE_REC *line,
 
 		xpos += char_width;
 		if (xpos <= term_width) {
-			if ((chr & ~0x80) >= 32) {
+			if (IS_PRINTABLE(chr)) {
 				for (; text < end; text++)
 					term_addch(view->window, *text);
 				term_addch(view->window, *text);