diff --git a/src/townname.cpp b/src/townname.cpp
--- a/src/townname.cpp
+++ b/src/townname.cpp
@@ -501,7 +501,7 @@ static void MakeFinnishTownName(StringBu
 		if (view.find_first_of("aouAOU") != std::string_view::npos) {
 			builder += "la";
 		} else {
-			builder += u8"l\u00e4";
+			builder += "l\u00e4";
 		}
 		return;
 	}