diff --git a/desmume/src/windows/winutil.cpp b/desmume/src/windows/winutil.cpp
index ec96e01ae..516b9f5c4 100644
--- a/desmume/src/windows/winutil.cpp
+++ b/desmume/src/windows/winutil.cpp
@@ -99,10 +99,10 @@ std::string GetPrivateProfileStdString(LPCSTR lpAppName,LPCSTR lpKeyName,LPCSTR
 
 std::wstring STRW(UINT id)
 {
-	wchar_t* wstr;
-	LoadStringW(NULL,id,(LPWSTR)&wstr,0);
-	if(wstr==0) return L"";
-	else return wstr;
+	static const int BUFSIZE = 32768;
+	static wchar_t wstr[BUFSIZE];
+	LoadStringW(NULL,id,wstr,BUFSIZE);
+	return wstr;
 }
 
 bool IsDlgCheckboxChecked(HWND hDlg, int id)