diff --git a/include/wx/gtk/fontpicker.h b/include/wx/gtk/fontpicker.h
index 65bb5c9593..606f944152 100644
--- a/include/wx/gtk/fontpicker.h
+++ b/include/wx/gtk/fontpicker.h
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ protected:
 public:     // used by the GTK callback only
 
     void SetNativeFontInfo(const char *gtkdescription)
-        { m_selectedFont.SetNativeFontInfo(wxString::FromAscii(gtkdescription)); }
+        { m_selectedFont.SetNativeFontInfo(wxString::FromUTF8(gtkdescription)); }
 
 private:
     DECLARE_DYNAMIC_CLASS(wxFontButton)
diff --git a/src/gtk/control.cpp b/src/gtk/control.cpp
index 30409cd133..3352965683 100644
--- a/src/gtk/control.cpp
+++ b/src/gtk/control.cpp
@@ -301,8 +301,10 @@ wxControl::GetDefaultAttributesFromGTKWidget(GtkWidget* widget,
         if (!font_name)
             attr.font = wxSystemSettings::GetFont( wxSYS_DEFAULT_GUI_FONT );
         else
-            attr.font = wxFont(wxString::FromAscii(font_name));
-        g_free (font_name);
+        {
+            attr.font = wxFont(wxString::FromUTF8(font_name));
+            g_free(font_name);
+        }
     }
 
     if (tlw)