1 files changed, 2 insertions, 1 deletions

diff --git a/src/fileio.c b/src/fileio.c
index 8eb1b3a2c87..6b9b9afb47c 100644
--- a/src/fileio.c
+++ b/src/fileio.c
@@ -261,7 +261,8 @@ report_file_error (string, data)
       default:
         /* System error messages are capitalized.  Downcase the initial
            unless it is followed by a slash.  */
-        if (! EQ (Faref (errstring, make_number (1)), make_number ('/')))
+        if (STRING_MULTIBYTE (errstring)
+            && ! EQ (Faref (errstring, make_number (1)), make_number ('/')))
           {
             int c;