diff --git a/src/xenia/kernel/xboxkrnl/xboxkrnl_strings.cc b/src/xenia/kernel/xboxkrnl/xboxkrnl_strings.cc
index b5a4c9241..d5313ed7f 100644
--- a/src/xenia/kernel/xboxkrnl/xboxkrnl_strings.cc
+++ b/src/xenia/kernel/xboxkrnl/xboxkrnl_strings.cc
@@ -49,6 +49,9 @@ enum FormatFlags {
   FF_IsWide = 1 << 9,
   FF_IsSigned = 1 << 10,
   FF_ForceLeadingZero = 1 << 11,
+  // IsWide gets used as an "is opposite encoding" flag, but this flag means
+  // it's definitely wide
+  FF_IsAlwaysWide = 1 << 12, 
 };
 
 enum ArgumentSize {
@@ -292,7 +295,7 @@ int32_t format_core(PPCContext* ppc_context, FormatData& data, ArgList& args,
           state = FS_Type;
           continue;
         } else if (c == 'w') {
-          flags |= FF_IsWide;
+          flags |= (FF_IsWide | FF_IsAlwaysWide);
           state = FS_Type;
           continue;
         } else if (c == 'I') {
@@ -337,7 +340,7 @@ int32_t format_core(PPCContext* ppc_context, FormatData& data, ArgList& args,
               // functions and with C in wprintf functions."
               is_wide = false;
             } else {
-              is_wide = ((flags & FF_IsWide) != 0) ^ wide;
+              is_wide = (((flags & FF_IsWide) != 0) ^ wide) || (flags & FF_IsAlwaysWide) != 0;
             }
 
             auto value = args.get32();
@@ -552,7 +555,7 @@ int32_t format_core(PPCContext* ppc_context, FormatData& data, ArgList& args,
                 // functions and with S in wprintf functions."
                 is_wide = false;
               } else {
-                is_wide = ((flags & (FF_IsWide)) != 0) ^ wide;
+                is_wide = (((flags & (FF_IsWide)) != 0) ^ wide) || (flags & FF_IsAlwaysWide) != 0;
               }
               int32_t length;