diff --git a/src/audio/music_ogg.cpp b/src/audio/music_ogg.cpp
index 4ec5840da..2d27a2cac 100644
--- a/src/audio/music_ogg.cpp
+++ b/src/audio/music_ogg.cpp
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 #include "audio/music_manager.hpp"
 #include "audio/sfx_manager.hpp"
 #include "utils/constants.hpp"
+#include "utils/file_utils.hpp"
 #include "utils/log.hpp"
 
 MusicOggStream::MusicOggStream(float loop_start)
@@ -58,7 +59,7 @@ bool MusicOggStream::load(const std::string& filename)
     m_fileName = filename;
     if(m_fileName=="") return false;
 
-    m_oggFile = fopen(m_fileName.c_str(), "rb");
+    m_oggFile = FileUtils::fopenU8Path(m_fileName, "rb");
 
     if(!m_oggFile)
     {
diff --git a/src/audio/sfx_buffer.cpp b/src/audio/sfx_buffer.cpp
index febc4bba2..756563f49 100644
--- a/src/audio/sfx_buffer.cpp
+++ b/src/audio/sfx_buffer.cpp
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 #include "config/user_config.hpp"
 #include "io/file_manager.hpp"
 #include "utils/constants.hpp"
+#include "utils/file_utils.hpp"
 #include "utils/log.hpp"
 
 #ifdef ENABLE_SOUND
@@ -171,7 +172,7 @@ bool SFXBuffer::loadVorbisBuffer(const std::string &name, ALuint buffer)
         return false;
     }
 
-    file = fopen(name.c_str(), "rb");
+    file = FileUtils::fopenU8Path(name, "rb");
 
     if(!file)
     {
diff --git a/src/challenges/unlock_manager.cpp b/src/challenges/unlock_manager.cpp
index b6ba2d93f..e1c743d46 100644
--- a/src/challenges/unlock_manager.cpp
+++ b/src/challenges/unlock_manager.cpp
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 #include "karts/kart_properties_manager.hpp"
 #include "race/race_manager.hpp"
 #include "tracks/track_manager.hpp"
+#include "utils/file_utils.hpp"
 #include "utils/log.hpp"
 #include "utils/string_utils.hpp"
 
@@ -109,7 +110,7 @@ void UnlockManager::readAllChallengesInDirs(const std::vector<std::string>* all_
 
             std::string filename = *dir + "/" + *file;
 
-            FILE* f = fopen(filename.c_str(), "r");
+            FILE* f = FileUtils::fopenU8Path(filename, "r");
             if (f)
             {
                 fclose(f);
diff --git a/src/network/network.cpp b/src/network/network.cpp
index f64e3c771..cf8441d24 100644
--- a/src/network/network.cpp
+++ b/src/network/network.cpp
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 #include "network/network_config.hpp"
 #include "network/network_string.hpp"
 #include "network/transport_address.hpp"
+#include "utils/file_utils.hpp"
 #include "utils/log.hpp"
 #include "utils/time.hpp"
 
@@ -198,7 +199,7 @@ void Network::openLog()
     {
         std::string s = file_manager
             ->getUserConfigFile(FileManager::getStdoutName()+".packet");
-        m_log_file.setAtomic(fopen(s.c_str(), "w+"));
+        m_log_file.setAtomic(FileUtils::fopenU8Path(s, "w+"));
         if (!m_log_file.getData())
             Log::warn("STKHost", "Network packets won't be logged: no file.");
     }
diff --git a/src/online/http_request.cpp b/src/online/http_request.cpp
index 5fcb9d684..bd9fef00a 100644
--- a/src/online/http_request.cpp
+++ b/src/online/http_request.cpp
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 #include "io/file_manager.hpp"
 #include "online/request_manager.hpp"
 #include "utils/constants.hpp"
+#include "utils/file_utils.hpp"
 #include "utils/translation.hpp"
 
 #ifdef WIN32
@@ -210,7 +211,7 @@ namespace Online
         FILE *fout = NULL;
         if (m_filename.size() > 0)
         {
-            fout = fopen((m_filename+".part").c_str(), "wb");
+            fout = FileUtils::fopenU8Path(m_filename + ".part", "wb");
 
             if (!fout)
             {
diff --git a/src/race/history.cpp b/src/race/history.cpp
index b2f51d17d..7f838496c 100644
--- a/src/race/history.cpp
+++ b/src/race/history.cpp
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 #include "race/race_manager.hpp"
 #include "tracks/track.hpp"
 #include "utils/constants.hpp"
+#include "utils/file_utils.hpp"
 
 History* history = 0;
 bool History::m_online_history_replay = false;
@@ -137,7 +138,7 @@ void History::Save()
     else
     {
         std::string fn = file_manager->getUserConfigFile("history.dat");
-        fd = fopen(fn.c_str(), "w");
+        fd = FileUtils::fopenU8Path(fn, "w");
         if(fd)
             Log::info("History", "Saved in '%s'.", fn.c_str());
     }
@@ -196,7 +197,7 @@ void History::Load()
     else
     {
         std::string fn = file_manager->getUserConfigFile("history.dat");
-        fd = fopen(fn.c_str(), "r");
+        fd = FileUtils::fopenU8Path(fn, "r");
         if(fd)
             Log::info("History", "Reading '%s'.", fn.c_str());
     }
diff --git a/src/scriptengine/script_engine.cpp b/src/scriptengine/script_engine.cpp
index 72236ea05..1085fc66f 100644
--- a/src/scriptengine/script_engine.cpp
+++ b/src/scriptengine/script_engine.cpp
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@
 #include "states_screens/dialogs/tutorial_message_dialog.hpp"
 #include "tracks/track_object_manager.hpp"
 #include "tracks/track.hpp"
+#include "utils/file_utils.hpp"
 #include "utils/profiler.hpp"
 
 
@@ -94,7 +95,7 @@ namespace Scripting
     {
         //std::string script_path = World::getWorld()->getTrack()->getTrackFile(fileName);
 
-        FILE *f = fopen(script_path.c_str(), "rb");
+        FILE *f = FileUtils::fopenU8Path(script_path, "rb");
         if (f == NULL)
         {
             Log::debug("Scripting", "File does not exist : %s", script_path.c_str());
diff --git a/src/utils/log.cpp b/src/utils/log.cpp
index 34b123761..615fffdde 100644
--- a/src/utils/log.cpp
+++ b/src/utils/log.cpp
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 
 #include "config/user_config.hpp"
 #include "network/network_config.hpp"
+#include "utils/file_utils.hpp"
 
 #include <cstdio>
 #include <ctime>
@@ -293,7 +294,7 @@ void Log::flushBuffers()
  */
 void Log::openOutputFiles(const std::string &logout)
 {
-    m_file_stdout = fopen(logout.c_str(), "w");
+    m_file_stdout = FileUtils::fopenU8Path(logout, "w");
     if (!m_file_stdout)
     {
         Log::error("main", "Can not open log file '%s'. Writing to "