diff --git a/gfx2def.ini b/gfx2def.ini
index d10330a9..56d1423d 100644
--- a/gfx2def.ini
+++ b/gfx2def.ini
@@ -333,4 +333,15 @@
   ; OS isn't able to do it by itself. (ie: Windows)
   Window_position = 9999,9999; (Default 9999,9999 which means: NA)
 
+  ; The program uses SDL's Unicode support to translate key combinations
+  ; into characters, when you're typing in textboxes. However, on
+  ; Windows 98 and if you're using a French or German keyboard, SDL has a
+  ; rather severe bug: The key ^ causes an instant crash if the key
+  ; that follows it isn't space or a vowel (the ones that make it a valid
+  ; combination : ^âêîôû)
+  ; If this problem concerns you, disable unicode below, and it will never
+  ; crash. This won't affect keyboard shortcuts, but in text fields you will be
+  ; unable to type many punctuation characters.
+  Use_unicode = yes ; (Default 'yes')
+
   ; end of configuration
diff --git a/readini.c b/readini.c
index e4549072..da0eb3b9 100644
--- a/readini.c
+++ b/readini.c
@@ -798,7 +798,12 @@ int Load_INI(T_Config * conf)
     conf->Window_pos_x = values[0];
     conf->Window_pos_y = values[1];
   }
-
+  // Optional, Unicode support on/off (>98.0%)
+  conf->Use_unicode=1;
+  if (!Load_INI_get_values (file,buffer,"Use_unicode",1,values))
+  {
+    conf->Use_unicode = (values[0]!=0);
+  }
 
   fclose(file);
 
diff --git a/readline.c b/readline.c
index 051714d9..613932ba 100644
--- a/readline.c
+++ b/readline.c
@@ -142,7 +142,8 @@ byte Readline_ex(word x_pos,word y_pos,char * str,byte visible_size,byte max_siz
 
   byte offset=0; // index du premier caractère affiché
 
-  SDL_EnableUNICODE(SDL_ENABLE);
+  if (Config.Use_unicode)
+    SDL_EnableUNICODE(SDL_ENABLE);
 
   Hide_cursor();
   // Effacement de la chaîne
@@ -348,7 +349,8 @@ affichage:
   Update_rect(Window_pos_X+(x_pos*Menu_factor_X),Window_pos_Y+(y_pos*Menu_factor_Y),
         visible_size*(Menu_factor_X<<3),(Menu_factor_Y<<3));
 
-  SDL_EnableUNICODE(SDL_DISABLE);
+  if (Config.Use_unicode)
+    SDL_EnableUNICODE(SDL_DISABLE);
 
   return (input_key==SDLK_RETURN);
 }
diff --git a/saveini.c b/saveini.c
index ac8e53d3..bf4077b4 100644
--- a/saveini.c
+++ b/saveini.c
@@ -635,6 +635,9 @@ int Save_INI(T_Config * conf)
   if ((return_code=Save_INI_set_values (Ancien_fichier,Nouveau_fichier,buffer,"Window_position",2,values,0)))
     goto Erreur_Retour;
 
+  values[0]=conf->Use_unicode;
+  if ((return_code=Save_INI_set_values (Ancien_fichier,Nouveau_fichier,buffer,"Use_unicode",1,values,1)))
+    goto Erreur_Retour;
     
   Save_INI_flush(Ancien_fichier,Nouveau_fichier,buffer);
 
diff --git a/struct.h b/struct.h
index 81f26b0d..0fe54840 100644
--- a/struct.h
+++ b/struct.h
@@ -269,6 +269,7 @@ typedef struct
   char Bookmark_label[NB_BOOKMARKS][8+1];///< Bookmarked directories in fileselectors: This is the displayed name.
   int  Window_pos_x;                     ///< Last window x position (9999 if unsupportd/irrelevant for the platform)
   int  Window_pos_y;                     ///< Last window y position (9999 if unsupportd/irrelevant for the platform)
+  byte Use_unicode;                      ///< Boolean, true to use Unicode for keyboard input
 } T_Config;
 
 // Structures utilisées pour les descriptions de pages et de liste de pages.