diff --git a/st.c b/st.c
index 5d4054f..1414f98 100644
--- a/st.c
+++ b/st.c
@@ -2307,7 +2307,7 @@ tputc(Rune u)
 	Glyph *gp;
 
 	control = ISCONTROL(u);
-	if (!IS_SET(MODE_UTF8 | MODE_SIXEL)) {
+	if (u < 127 || !IS_SET(MODE_UTF8 | MODE_SIXEL)) {
 		c[0] = u;
 		width = len = 1;
 	} else {