diff --git a/cmd-choose-buffer.c b/cmd-choose-buffer.c
index e790de6b..dbb20fc4 100644
--- a/cmd-choose-buffer.c
+++ b/cmd-choose-buffer.c
@@ -51,7 +51,6 @@ cmd_choose_buffer_exec(struct cmd *self, struct cmd_q *cmdq)
 	char				*action, *action_data;
 	const char			*template;
 	u_int				 idx;
-	int				 utf8flag;
 
 	if ((c = cmd_find_client(cmdq, NULL, 1)) == NULL) {
 		cmdq_error(cmdq, "no client available");
@@ -63,7 +62,6 @@ cmd_choose_buffer_exec(struct cmd *self, struct cmd_q *cmdq)
 
 	if ((wl = cmd_find_window(cmdq, args_get(args, 't'), NULL)) == NULL)
 		return (CMD_RETURN_ERROR);
-	utf8flag = options_get_number(wl->window->options, "utf8");
 
 	if (paste_get_top(NULL) == NULL)
 		return (CMD_RETURN_NORMAL);
@@ -83,7 +81,7 @@ cmd_choose_buffer_exec(struct cmd *self, struct cmd_q *cmdq)
 		cdata->idx = idx;
 
 		cdata->ft_template = xstrdup(template);
-		format_defaults_paste_buffer(cdata->ft, pb, utf8flag);
+		format_defaults_paste_buffer(cdata->ft, pb);
 
 		xasprintf(&action_data, "%s", paste_buffer_name(pb));
 		cdata->command = cmd_template_replace(action, action_data, 1);
diff --git a/cmd-list-buffers.c b/cmd-list-buffers.c
index 37571b80..3a8a790a 100644
--- a/cmd-list-buffers.c
+++ b/cmd-list-buffers.c
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ cmd_list_buffers_exec(unused struct cmd *self, struct cmd_q *cmdq)
 	pb = NULL;
 	while ((pb = paste_walk(pb)) != NULL) {
 		ft = format_create();
-		format_defaults_paste_buffer(ft, pb, 0);
+		format_defaults_paste_buffer(ft, pb);
 
 		line = format_expand(ft, template);
 		cmdq_print(cmdq, "%s", line);
diff --git a/format.c b/format.c
index f799dfb5..bcac7934 100644
--- a/format.c
+++ b/format.c
@@ -1144,8 +1144,7 @@ format_defaults_pane(struct format_tree *ft, struct window_pane *wp)
 
 /* Set default format keys for paste buffer. */
 void
-format_defaults_paste_buffer(struct format_tree *ft, struct paste_buffer *pb,
-    int utf8flag)
+format_defaults_paste_buffer(struct format_tree *ft, struct paste_buffer *pb)
 {
 	size_t	 bufsize;
 	char	*s;
@@ -1154,7 +1153,7 @@ format_defaults_paste_buffer(struct format_tree *ft, struct paste_buffer *pb,
 	format_add(ft, "buffer_size", "%zu", bufsize);
 	format_add(ft, "buffer_name", "%s", paste_buffer_name(pb));
 
-	s = paste_make_sample(pb, utf8flag);
+	s = paste_make_sample(pb);
 	format_add(ft, "buffer_sample", "%s", s);
 	free(s);
 }
diff --git a/input.c b/input.c
index 3a02b0ce..41276d9a 100644
--- a/input.c
+++ b/input.c
@@ -1921,11 +1921,6 @@ input_exit_rename(struct input_ctx *ictx)
 int
 input_utf8_open(struct input_ctx *ictx)
 {
-	if (!options_get_number(ictx->wp->window->options, "utf8")) {
-		/* Print, and do not switch state. */
-		input_print(ictx);
-		return (-1);
-	}
 	log_debug("%s", __func__);
 
 	utf8_open(&ictx->utf8data, ictx->ch);
diff --git a/options-table.c b/options-table.c
index d216b6d8..cf4e2d14 100644
--- a/options-table.c
+++ b/options-table.c
@@ -416,11 +416,6 @@ const struct options_table_entry session_options_table[] = {
 	  .default_str = "bg=green,fg=black"
 	},
 
-	{ .name = "status-utf8",
-	  .type = OPTIONS_TABLE_FLAG,
-	  .default_num = 0 /* overridden in main() */
-	},
-
 	{ .name = "update-environment",
 	  .type = OPTIONS_TABLE_STRING,
 	  .default_str = "DISPLAY SSH_ASKPASS SSH_AUTH_SOCK SSH_AGENT_PID "
@@ -624,11 +619,6 @@ const struct options_table_entry window_options_table[] = {
 	  .default_num = 0
 	},
 
-	{ .name = "utf8",
-	  .type = OPTIONS_TABLE_FLAG,
-	  .default_num = 0 /* overridden in main() */
-	},
-
 	{ .name = "window-active-style",
 	  .type = OPTIONS_TABLE_STYLE,
 	  .default_str = "default"
diff --git a/paste.c b/paste.c
index ad3b56b5..5f60914f 100644
--- a/paste.c
+++ b/paste.c
@@ -275,7 +275,7 @@ paste_set(char *data, size_t size, const char *name, char **cause)
 
 /* Convert start of buffer into a nice string. */
 char *
-paste_make_sample(struct paste_buffer *pb, int utf8flag)
+paste_make_sample(struct paste_buffer *pb)
 {
 	char		*buf;
 	size_t		 len, used;
@@ -287,10 +287,7 @@ paste_make_sample(struct paste_buffer *pb, int utf8flag)
 		len = width;
 	buf = xreallocarray(NULL, len, 4 + 4);
 
-	if (utf8flag)
-		used = utf8_strvis(buf, pb->data, len, flags);
-	else
-		used = strvisx(buf, pb->data, len, flags);
+	used = utf8_strvis(buf, pb->data, len, flags);
 	if (pb->size > width || used > width)
 		strlcpy(buf + width, "...", 4);
 	return (buf);
diff --git a/screen-write.c b/screen-write.c
index f80048b6..6286d21f 100644
--- a/screen-write.c
+++ b/screen-write.c
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ screen_write_putc(struct screen_write_ctx *ctx, struct grid_cell *gc,
 
 /* Calculate string length, with embedded formatting. */
 size_t
-screen_write_cstrlen(int utf8flag, const char *fmt, ...)
+screen_write_cstrlen(const char *fmt, ...)
 {
 	va_list	ap;
 	char   *msg, *msg2, *ptr, *ptr2;
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ screen_write_cstrlen(int utf8flag, const char *fmt, ...)
 	}
 	*ptr2 = '\0';
 
-	size = screen_write_strlen(utf8flag, "%s", msg2);
+	size = screen_write_strlen("%s", msg2);
 
 	free(msg);
 	free(msg2);
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ screen_write_cstrlen(int utf8flag, const char *fmt, ...)
 
 /* Calculate string length. */
 size_t
-screen_write_strlen(int utf8flag, const char *fmt, ...)
+screen_write_strlen(const char *fmt, ...)
 {
 	va_list			ap;
 	char   	       	       *msg;
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ screen_write_strlen(int utf8flag, const char *fmt, ...)
 
 	ptr = msg;
 	while (*ptr != '\0') {
-		if (utf8flag && *ptr > 0x7f && utf8_open(&utf8data, *ptr)) {
+		if (*ptr > 0x7f && utf8_open(&utf8data, *ptr)) {
 			ptr++;
 
 			left = strlen(ptr);
@@ -134,7 +134,8 @@ screen_write_strlen(int utf8flag, const char *fmt, ...)
 
 			size += utf8data.width;
 		} else {
-			size++;
+			if (*ptr > 0x1f && *ptr < 0x7f)
+				size++;
 			ptr++;
 		}
 	}
@@ -151,25 +152,25 @@ screen_write_puts(struct screen_write_ctx *ctx, struct grid_cell *gc,
 	va_list	ap;
 
 	va_start(ap, fmt);
-	screen_write_vnputs(ctx, -1, gc, 0, fmt, ap);
+	screen_write_vnputs(ctx, -1, gc, fmt, ap);
 	va_end(ap);
 }
 
 /* Write string with length limit (-1 for unlimited). */
 void
 screen_write_nputs(struct screen_write_ctx *ctx, ssize_t maxlen,
-    struct grid_cell *gc, int utf8flag, const char *fmt, ...)
+    struct grid_cell *gc, const char *fmt, ...)
 {
 	va_list	ap;
 
 	va_start(ap, fmt);
-	screen_write_vnputs(ctx, maxlen, gc, utf8flag, fmt, ap);
+	screen_write_vnputs(ctx, maxlen, gc, fmt, ap);
 	va_end(ap);
 }
 
 void
 screen_write_vnputs(struct screen_write_ctx *ctx, ssize_t maxlen,
-    struct grid_cell *gc, int utf8flag, const char *fmt, va_list ap)
+    struct grid_cell *gc, const char *fmt, va_list ap)
 {
 	char   		       *msg;
 	struct utf8_data	utf8data;
@@ -180,7 +181,7 @@ screen_write_vnputs(struct screen_write_ctx *ctx, ssize_t maxlen,
 
 	ptr = msg;
 	while (*ptr != '\0') {
-		if (utf8flag && *ptr > 0x7f && utf8_open(&utf8data, *ptr)) {
+		if (*ptr > 0x7f && utf8_open(&utf8data, *ptr)) {
 			ptr++;
 
 			left = strlen(ptr);
@@ -208,7 +209,7 @@ screen_write_vnputs(struct screen_write_ctx *ctx, ssize_t maxlen,
 
 			if (*ptr == '\001')
 				gc->attr ^= GRID_ATTR_CHARSET;
-			else {
+			else if (*ptr > 0x1f && *ptr < 0x7f) {
 				size++;
 				screen_write_putc(ctx, gc, *ptr);
 			}
@@ -221,8 +222,8 @@ screen_write_vnputs(struct screen_write_ctx *ctx, ssize_t maxlen,
 
 /* Write string, similar to nputs, but with embedded formatting (#[]). */
 void
-screen_write_cnputs(struct screen_write_ctx *ctx,
-    ssize_t maxlen, struct grid_cell *gc, int utf8flag, const char *fmt, ...)
+screen_write_cnputs(struct screen_write_ctx *ctx, ssize_t maxlen,
+    struct grid_cell *gc, const char *fmt, ...)
 {
 	struct grid_cell	 lgc;
 	struct utf8_data	 utf8data;
@@ -253,7 +254,7 @@ screen_write_cnputs(struct screen_write_ctx *ctx,
 			continue;
 		}
 
-		if (utf8flag && *ptr > 0x7f && utf8_open(&utf8data, *ptr)) {
+		if (*ptr > 0x7f && utf8_open(&utf8data, *ptr)) {
 			ptr++;
 
 			left = strlen(ptr);
@@ -279,8 +280,10 @@ screen_write_cnputs(struct screen_write_ctx *ctx,
 			if (maxlen > 0 && size + 1 > (size_t) maxlen)
 				break;
 
-			size++;
-			screen_write_putc(ctx, &lgc, *ptr);
+			if (*ptr > 0x1f && *ptr < 0x7f) {
+				size++;
+				screen_write_putc(ctx, &lgc, *ptr);
+			}
 			ptr++;
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/status.c b/status.c
index df80d2b8..a4bdf6fa 100644
--- a/status.c
+++ b/status.c
@@ -29,10 +29,10 @@
 
 #include "tmux.h"
 
-char   *status_redraw_get_left(struct client *, time_t, int, struct grid_cell *,
+char   *status_redraw_get_left(struct client *, time_t, struct grid_cell *,
+	    size_t *);
+char   *status_redraw_get_right(struct client *, time_t, struct grid_cell *,
 	    size_t *);
-char   *status_redraw_get_right(struct client *, time_t, int,
-	    struct grid_cell *, size_t *);
 char   *status_print(struct client *, struct winlink *, time_t,
 	    struct grid_cell *);
 char   *status_replace(struct client *, struct winlink *, const char *, time_t);
@@ -208,8 +208,8 @@ status_at_line(struct client *c)
 
 /* Retrieve options for left string. */
 char *
-status_redraw_get_left(struct client *c, time_t t, int utf8flag,
-    struct grid_cell *gc, size_t *size)
+status_redraw_get_left(struct client *c, time_t t, struct grid_cell *gc,
+    size_t *size)
 {
 	struct session	*s = c->session;
 	const char	*template;
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ status_redraw_get_left(struct client *c, time_t t, int utf8flag,
 	left = status_replace(c, NULL, template, t);
 
 	*size = options_get_number(s->options, "status-left-length");
-	leftlen = screen_write_cstrlen(utf8flag, "%s", left);
+	leftlen = screen_write_cstrlen("%s", left);
 	if (leftlen < *size)
 		*size = leftlen;
 	return (left);
@@ -230,8 +230,8 @@ status_redraw_get_left(struct client *c, time_t t, int utf8flag,
 
 /* Retrieve options for right string. */
 char *
-status_redraw_get_right(struct client *c, time_t t, int utf8flag,
-    struct grid_cell *gc, size_t *size)
+status_redraw_get_right(struct client *c, time_t t, struct grid_cell *gc,
+    size_t *size)
 {
 	struct session	*s = c->session;
 	const char	*template;
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ status_redraw_get_right(struct client *c, time_t t, int utf8flag,
 	right = status_replace(c, NULL, template, t);
 
 	*size = options_get_number(s->options, "status-right-length");
-	rightlen = screen_write_cstrlen(utf8flag, "%s", right);
+	rightlen = screen_write_cstrlen("%s", right);
 	if (rightlen < *size)
 		*size = rightlen;
 	return (right);
@@ -286,7 +286,7 @@ status_redraw(struct client *c)
 	u_int			offset, needed;
 	u_int			wlstart, wlwidth, wlavailable, wloffset, wlsize;
 	size_t			llen, rlen, seplen;
-	int			larrow, rarrow, utf8flag;
+	int			larrow, rarrow;
 
 	/* No status line? */
 	if (c->tty.sy == 0 || !options_get_number(s->options, "status"))
@@ -312,14 +312,11 @@ status_redraw(struct client *c)
 	if (c->tty.sy <= 1)
 		goto out;
 
-	/* Get UTF-8 flag. */
-	utf8flag = options_get_number(s->options, "status-utf8");
-
 	/* Work out left and right strings. */
 	memcpy(&lgc, &stdgc, sizeof lgc);
-	left = status_redraw_get_left(c, t, utf8flag, &lgc, &llen);
+	left = status_redraw_get_left(c, t, &lgc, &llen);
 	memcpy(&rgc, &stdgc, sizeof rgc);
-	right = status_redraw_get_right(c, t, utf8flag, &rgc, &rlen);
+	right = status_redraw_get_right(c, t, &rgc, &rlen);
 
 	/*
 	 * Figure out how much space we have for the window list. If there
@@ -340,15 +337,14 @@ status_redraw(struct client *c)
 		free(wl->status_text);
 		memcpy(&wl->status_cell, &stdgc, sizeof wl->status_cell);
 		wl->status_text = status_print(c, wl, t, &wl->status_cell);
-		wl->status_width =
-		    screen_write_cstrlen(utf8flag, "%s", wl->status_text);
+		wl->status_width = screen_write_cstrlen("%s", wl->status_text);
 
 		if (wl == s->curw)
 			wloffset = wlwidth;
 
 		oo = wl->window->options;
 		sep = options_get_string(oo, "window-status-separator");
-		seplen = screen_write_strlen(utf8flag, "%s", sep);
+		seplen = screen_write_strlen("%s", sep);
 		wlwidth += wl->status_width + seplen;
 	}
 
@@ -358,12 +354,12 @@ status_redraw(struct client *c)
 	/* And draw the window list into it. */
 	screen_write_start(&ctx, NULL, &window_list);
 	RB_FOREACH(wl, winlinks, &s->windows) {
-		screen_write_cnputs(&ctx,
-		    -1, &wl->status_cell, utf8flag, "%s", wl->status_text);
+		screen_write_cnputs(&ctx, -1, &wl->status_cell, "%s",
+		    wl->status_text);
 
 		oo = wl->window->options;
 		sep = options_get_string(oo, "window-status-separator");
-		screen_write_nputs(&ctx, -1, &stdgc, utf8flag, "%s", sep);
+		screen_write_nputs(&ctx, -1, &stdgc, "%s", sep);
 	}
 	screen_write_stop(&ctx);
 
@@ -435,7 +431,7 @@ draw:
 	/* Draw the left string and arrow. */
 	screen_write_cursormove(&ctx, 0, 0);
 	if (llen != 0)
-		screen_write_cnputs(&ctx, llen, &lgc, utf8flag, "%s", left);
+		screen_write_cnputs(&ctx, llen, &lgc, "%s", left);
 	if (larrow != 0) {
 		memcpy(&gc, &stdgc, sizeof gc);
 		if (larrow == -1)
@@ -453,7 +449,7 @@ draw:
 	} else
 		screen_write_cursormove(&ctx, c->tty.sx - rlen, 0);
 	if (rlen != 0)
-		screen_write_cnputs(&ctx, rlen, &rgc, utf8flag, "%s", right);
+		screen_write_cnputs(&ctx, rlen, &rgc, "%s", right);
 
 	/* Figure out the offset for the window list. */
 	if (llen != 0)
@@ -624,16 +620,13 @@ status_message_redraw(struct client *c)
 	struct screen		        old_status;
 	size_t			        len;
 	struct grid_cell		gc;
-	int				utf8flag;
 
 	if (c->tty.sx == 0 || c->tty.sy == 0)
 		return (0);
 	memcpy(&old_status, &c->status, sizeof old_status);
 	screen_init(&c->status, c->tty.sx, 1, 0);
 
-	utf8flag = options_get_number(s->options, "status-utf8");
-
-	len = screen_write_strlen(utf8flag, "%s", c->message_string);
+	len = screen_write_strlen("%s", c->message_string);
 	if (len > c->tty.sx)
 		len = c->tty.sx;
 
@@ -642,7 +635,7 @@ status_message_redraw(struct client *c)
 	screen_write_start(&ctx, NULL, &c->status);
 
 	screen_write_cursormove(&ctx, 0, 0);
-	screen_write_nputs(&ctx, len, &gc, utf8flag, "%s", c->message_string);
+	screen_write_nputs(&ctx, len, &gc, "%s", c->message_string);
 	for (; len < c->tty.sx; len++)
 		screen_write_putc(&ctx, &gc, ' ');
 
@@ -754,16 +747,13 @@ status_prompt_redraw(struct client *c)
 	struct screen		        old_status;
 	size_t			        i, size, left, len, off;
 	struct grid_cell		gc, *gcp;
-	int				utf8flag;
 
 	if (c->tty.sx == 0 || c->tty.sy == 0)
 		return (0);
 	memcpy(&old_status, &c->status, sizeof old_status);
 	screen_init(&c->status, c->tty.sx, 1, 0);
 
-	utf8flag = options_get_number(s->options, "status-utf8");
-
-	len = screen_write_strlen(utf8flag, "%s", c->prompt_string);
+	len = screen_write_strlen("%s", c->prompt_string);
 	if (len > c->tty.sx)
 		len = c->tty.sx;
 	off = 0;
@@ -777,19 +767,19 @@ status_prompt_redraw(struct client *c)
 	screen_write_start(&ctx, NULL, &c->status);
 
 	screen_write_cursormove(&ctx, 0, 0);
-	screen_write_nputs(&ctx, len, &gc, utf8flag, "%s", c->prompt_string);
+	screen_write_nputs(&ctx, len, &gc, "%s", c->prompt_string);
 
 	left = c->tty.sx - len;
 	if (left != 0) {
-		size = screen_write_strlen(utf8flag, "%s", c->prompt_buffer);
+		size = screen_write_strlen("%s", c->prompt_buffer);
 		if (c->prompt_index >= left) {
 			off = c->prompt_index - left + 1;
 			if (c->prompt_index == size)
 				left--;
 			size = left;
 		}
-		screen_write_nputs(
-		    &ctx, left, &gc, utf8flag, "%s", c->prompt_buffer + off);
+		screen_write_nputs(&ctx, left, &gc, "%s", c->prompt_buffer +
+		    off);
 
 		for (i = len + size; i < c->tty.sx; i++)
 			screen_write_putc(&ctx, &gc, ' ');
diff --git a/tmux.1 b/tmux.1
index a35c01f8..d84265c6 100644
--- a/tmux.1
+++ b/tmux.1
@@ -190,13 +190,11 @@ flag explicitly informs
 .Nm
 that UTF-8 is supported.
 .Pp
-If the server is started from a client passed
-.Fl u
-or where UTF-8 is detected, the
-.Ic utf8
-and
-.Ic status-utf8
-options are enabled in the global window and session options respectively.
+Note that
+.Nm
+itself always accepts UTF-8, this controls whether it will send UTF-8
+characters to the terminal it is running it (if not, they are replaced by
+.Ql _ ) .
 .It Fl v
 Request verbose logging.
 This option may be specified multiple times for increasing verbosity.
@@ -2770,12 +2768,6 @@ Examples are:
 #[fg=yellow,bold]#(apm -l)%%#[default] [#S]
 .Ed
 .Pp
-By default, UTF-8 in
-.Ar string
-is not interpreted, to enable UTF-8, use the
-.Ic status-utf8
-option.
-.Pp
 The default is
 .Ql "[#S] " .
 .It Ic status-left-length Ar length
@@ -2805,9 +2797,7 @@ As with
 .Ar string
 will be passed to
 .Xr strftime 3 ,
-character pairs are replaced, and UTF-8 is dependent on the
-.Ic status-utf8
-option.
+character pairs are replaced.
 .It Ic status-right-length Ar length
 Set the maximum
 .Ar length
@@ -2827,17 +2817,6 @@ For how to specify
 see the
 .Ic message-command-style
 option.
-.It Xo Ic status-utf8
-.Op Ic on | off
-.Xc
-Instruct
-.Nm
-to treat top-bit-set characters in the
-.Ic status-left
-and
-.Ic status-right
-strings as UTF-8; notably, this is important for wide characters.
-This option defaults to off.
 .It Ic update-environment Ar variables
 Set a space-separated string containing a list of environment variables to be
 copied into the session environment when a new session is created or an
@@ -3084,13 +3063,6 @@ command.
 Duplicate input to any pane to all other panes in the same window (only
 for panes that are not in any special mode).
 .Pp
-.It Xo Ic utf8
-.Op Ic on | off
-.Xc
-Instructs
-.Nm
-to expect UTF-8 sequences to appear in this window.
-.Pp
 .It Ic window-active-style Ar style
 Set the style for the window's active pane.
 For how to specify
diff --git a/tmux.c b/tmux.c
index 1e68d9bb..9f9f9a50 100644
--- a/tmux.c
+++ b/tmux.c
@@ -291,12 +291,6 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 	global_w_options = options_create(NULL);
 	options_table_populate_tree(window_options_table, global_w_options);
 
-	/* Enable UTF-8 if the first client is on UTF-8 terminal. */
-	if (flags & CLIENT_UTF8) {
-		options_set_number(global_s_options, "status-utf8", 1);
-		options_set_number(global_w_options, "utf8", 1);
-	}
-
 	/* Override keys to vi if VISUAL or EDITOR are set. */
 	if ((s = getenv("VISUAL")) != NULL || (s = getenv("EDITOR")) != NULL) {
 		if (strrchr(s, '/') != NULL)
diff --git a/tmux.h b/tmux.h
index 51ceefd8..618240b0 100644
--- a/tmux.h
+++ b/tmux.h
@@ -1456,7 +1456,7 @@ void		 paste_free(struct paste_buffer *);
 void		 paste_add(char *, size_t);
 int		 paste_rename(const char *, const char *, char **);
 int		 paste_set(char *, size_t, const char *, char **);
-char		*paste_make_sample(struct paste_buffer *, int);
+char		*paste_make_sample(struct paste_buffer *);
 
 /* format.c */
 #define FORMAT_STATUS 0x1
@@ -1475,7 +1475,7 @@ void		 format_defaults_window(struct format_tree *, struct window *);
 void		 format_defaults_pane(struct format_tree *,
 		     struct window_pane *);
 void		 format_defaults_paste_buffer(struct format_tree *,
-		     struct paste_buffer *, int);
+		     struct paste_buffer *);
 
 /* mode-key.c */
 extern const struct mode_key_table mode_key_tables[];
@@ -1892,24 +1892,24 @@ void	 grid_view_delete_cells(struct grid *, u_int, u_int, u_int);
 char	*grid_view_string_cells(struct grid *, u_int, u_int, u_int);
 
 /* screen-write.c */
-void	 screen_write_start(
-	     struct screen_write_ctx *, struct window_pane *, struct screen *);
+void	 screen_write_start(struct screen_write_ctx *, struct window_pane *,
+	     struct screen *);
 void	 screen_write_stop(struct screen_write_ctx *);
 void	 screen_write_reset(struct screen_write_ctx *);
-size_t printflike(2, 3) screen_write_cstrlen(int, const char *, ...);
-void printflike(5, 6) screen_write_cnputs(struct screen_write_ctx *,
-	     ssize_t, struct grid_cell *, int, const char *, ...);
-size_t printflike(2, 3) screen_write_strlen(int, const char *, ...);
+size_t printflike(1, 2) screen_write_cstrlen(const char *, ...);
+void printflike(4, 5) screen_write_cnputs(struct screen_write_ctx *,
+	     ssize_t, struct grid_cell *, const char *, ...);
+size_t printflike(1, 2) screen_write_strlen(const char *, ...);
 void printflike(3, 4) screen_write_puts(struct screen_write_ctx *,
 	     struct grid_cell *, const char *, ...);
-void printflike(5, 6) screen_write_nputs(struct screen_write_ctx *,
-	     ssize_t, struct grid_cell *, int, const char *, ...);
-void	 screen_write_vnputs(struct screen_write_ctx *,
-	     ssize_t, struct grid_cell *, int, const char *, va_list);
-void	 screen_write_putc(
-	     struct screen_write_ctx *, struct grid_cell *, u_char);
-void	 screen_write_copy(struct screen_write_ctx *,
-	     struct screen *, u_int, u_int, u_int, u_int);
+void printflike(4, 5) screen_write_nputs(struct screen_write_ctx *,
+	     ssize_t, struct grid_cell *, const char *, ...);
+void	 screen_write_vnputs(struct screen_write_ctx *, ssize_t,
+	     struct grid_cell *, const char *, va_list);
+void	 screen_write_putc(struct screen_write_ctx *, struct grid_cell *,
+	     u_char);
+void	 screen_write_copy(struct screen_write_ctx *, struct screen *, u_int,
+	     u_int, u_int, u_int);
 void	 screen_write_backspace(struct screen_write_ctx *);
 void	 screen_write_mode_set(struct screen_write_ctx *, int);
 void	 screen_write_mode_clear(struct screen_write_ctx *, int);
diff --git a/window-choose.c b/window-choose.c
index fa0e95c8..5f406c78 100644
--- a/window-choose.c
+++ b/window-choose.c
@@ -754,13 +754,12 @@ window_choose_write_line(struct window_pane *wp, struct screen_write_ctx *ctx,
 	struct grid_cell		 gc;
 	size_t				 last, xoff = 0;
 	char				 hdr[32], label[32];
-	int				 utf8flag, key;
+	int				 key;
 
 	if (data->callbackfn == NULL)
 		fatalx("called before callback assigned");
 
 	last = screen_size_y(s) - 1;
-	utf8flag = options_get_number(wp->window->options, "utf8");
 	memcpy(&gc, &grid_default_cell, sizeof gc);
 	if (data->selected == data->top + py)
 		style_apply(&gc, oo, "mode-style");
@@ -777,7 +776,7 @@ window_choose_write_line(struct window_pane *wp, struct screen_write_ctx *ctx,
 			xsnprintf(label, sizeof label, "(%c)", key);
 		else
 			xsnprintf(label, sizeof label, "(%d)", item->pos);
-		screen_write_nputs(ctx, screen_size_x(s) - 1, &gc, utf8flag,
+		screen_write_nputs(ctx, screen_size_x(s) - 1, &gc,
 		    "%*s %s %s", data->width + 2, label,
 		    /*
 		     * Add indication to tree if necessary about whether it's
diff --git a/window-copy.c b/window-copy.c
index d3e5b7d9..1c1ea29c 100644
--- a/window-copy.c
+++ b/window-copy.c
@@ -280,13 +280,11 @@ window_copy_vadd(struct window_pane *wp, const char *fmt, va_list ap)
 	struct screen			*backing = data->backing;
 	struct screen_write_ctx	 	 back_ctx, ctx;
 	struct grid_cell		 gc;
-	int				 utf8flag;
 	u_int				 old_hsize, old_cy;
 
 	if (backing == &wp->base)
 		return;
 
-	utf8flag = options_get_number(wp->window->options, "utf8");
 	memcpy(&gc, &grid_default_cell, sizeof gc);
 
 	old_hsize = screen_hsize(data->backing);
@@ -301,7 +299,7 @@ window_copy_vadd(struct window_pane *wp, const char *fmt, va_list ap)
 	} else
 		data->backing_written = 1;
 	old_cy = backing->cy;
-	screen_write_vnputs(&back_ctx, 0, &gc, utf8flag, fmt, ap);
+	screen_write_vnputs(&back_ctx, 0, &gc, fmt, ap);
 	screen_write_stop(&back_ctx);
 
 	data->oy += screen_hsize(data->backing) - old_hsize;
@@ -1021,19 +1019,18 @@ window_copy_search_up(struct window_pane *wp, const char *searchstr)
 	struct grid_cell	 	 gc;
 	size_t				 searchlen;
 	u_int				 i, last, fx, fy, px;
-	int				 utf8flag, n, wrapped, wrapflag, cis;
+	int				 n, wrapped, wrapflag, cis;
 	const char			*ptr;
 
 	if (*searchstr == '\0')
 		return;
-	utf8flag = options_get_number(wp->window->options, "utf8");
 	wrapflag = options_get_number(wp->window->options, "wrap-search");
-	searchlen = screen_write_strlen(utf8flag, "%s", searchstr);
+	searchlen = screen_write_strlen("%s", searchstr);
 
 	screen_init(&ss, searchlen, 1, 0);
 	screen_write_start(&ctx, NULL, &ss);
 	memcpy(&gc, &grid_default_cell, sizeof gc);
-	screen_write_nputs(&ctx, -1, &gc, utf8flag, "%s", searchstr);
+	screen_write_nputs(&ctx, -1, &gc, "%s", searchstr);
 	screen_write_stop(&ctx);
 
 	fx = data->cx;
@@ -1088,19 +1085,18 @@ window_copy_search_down(struct window_pane *wp, const char *searchstr)
 	struct grid_cell	 	 gc;
 	size_t				 searchlen;
 	u_int				 i, first, fx, fy, px;
-	int				 utf8flag, n, wrapped, wrapflag, cis;
+	int				 n, wrapped, wrapflag, cis;
 	const char			*ptr;
 
 	if (*searchstr == '\0')
 		return;
-	utf8flag = options_get_number(wp->window->options, "utf8");
 	wrapflag = options_get_number(wp->window->options, "wrap-search");
-	searchlen = screen_write_strlen(utf8flag, "%s", searchstr);
+	searchlen = screen_write_strlen("%s", searchstr);
 
 	screen_init(&ss, searchlen, 1, 0);
 	screen_write_start(&ctx, NULL, &ss);
 	memcpy(&gc, &grid_default_cell, sizeof gc);
-	screen_write_nputs(&ctx, -1, &gc, utf8flag, "%s", searchstr);
+	screen_write_nputs(&ctx, -1, &gc, "%s", searchstr);
 	screen_write_stop(&ctx);
 
 	fx = data->cx;