diff --git a/src/openrct2/platform/platform.h b/src/openrct2/platform/platform.h
index 86941d1f5f..fb0edc5a7d 100644
--- a/src/openrct2/platform/platform.h
+++ b/src/openrct2/platform/platform.h
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ bool platform_original_game_data_exists(const utf8 *path);
 time_t platform_file_get_modified_time(const utf8* path);
 bool platform_ensure_directory_exists(const utf8 *path);
 bool platform_directory_delete(const utf8 *path);
-char* platform_get_absolute_path(const char* relative_path, const char* base_path);
+utf8 * platform_get_absolute_path(const utf8 * relative_path, const utf8 * base_path);
 bool platform_lock_single_instance();
 sint32 platform_enumerate_files_begin(const utf8 *pattern);
 bool platform_enumerate_files_next(sint32 handle, file_info *outFileInfo);
diff --git a/src/openrct2/platform/posix.c b/src/openrct2/platform/posix.c
index d48efed209..49236ea78a 100644
--- a/src/openrct2/platform/posix.c
+++ b/src/openrct2/platform/posix.c
@@ -261,9 +261,9 @@ bool platform_directory_delete(const utf8 *path)
 	return true;
 }
 
-char* platform_get_absolute_path(const char * relative_path,const char * base_path)
+utf8 * platform_get_absolute_path(const utf8 * relative_path, const utf8 * base_path)
 {
-	char path[MAX_PATH];
+	utf8 path[MAX_PATH];
 	
 	if (base_path != NULL)
 	{
diff --git a/src/openrct2/platform/windows.c b/src/openrct2/platform/windows.c
index 7f8856234f..4fe901d10a 100644
--- a/src/openrct2/platform/windows.c
+++ b/src/openrct2/platform/windows.c
@@ -1060,7 +1060,7 @@ bool platform_get_font_path(TTFFontDescriptor *font, utf8 *buffer, size_t size)
 #endif
 }
 
-char * platform_get_absolute_path(const utf8 * relativePath, const utf8 * basePath)
+utf8 * platform_get_absolute_path(const utf8 * relativePath, const utf8 * basePath)
 {
 	utf8 path[MAX_PATH];
 	safe_strcpy(path, basePath, sizeof(path));