diff --git a/st.c b/st.c
index c161497..5d4054f 100644
--- a/st.c
+++ b/st.c
@@ -2312,10 +2312,8 @@ tputc(Rune u)
 		width = len = 1;
 	} else {
 		len = utf8encode(u, c);
-		if (!control && (width = wcwidth(u)) == -1) {
-			memcpy(c, "\357\277\275", 4); /* UTF_INVALID */
+		if (!control && (width = wcwidth(u)) == -1)
 			width = 1;
-		}
 	}
 
 	if (IS_SET(MODE_PRINT))