diff --git a/src/util/zstring.cpp b/src/util/zstring.cpp
index 46c9d9fce..a0a5764bd 100644
--- a/src/util/zstring.cpp
+++ b/src/util/zstring.cpp
@@ -43,9 +43,9 @@ bool zstring::is_escape_char(char const *& s, unsigned& result) {
             }
             else if (*(s+3+i) == '}') {
                 if (result > 255 && !uses_unicode())
-                    throw default_exception("unicode characters outside of byte range are not supported");
-                if (result > unicode_max_char()) 
-                    throw default_exception("unicode characters outside of byte range are not supported");
+                    return false;
+                if (result > unicode_max_char())
+                    return false;
                 s += 4 + i;
                 return true;                
             }
@@ -65,8 +65,8 @@ bool zstring::is_escape_char(char const *& s, unsigned& result) {
         result = 16*result + d2;
         result = 16*result + d3;
         result = 16*result + d4;
-        if (result > unicode_max_char()) 
-            throw default_exception("unicode characters outside of byte range are not supported");
+        if (result > unicode_max_char())
+            return false;
         s += 6;
         return true;
     }