diff --git a/src/test/ref/string-escapes-5.asm b/src/test/ref/string-escapes-5.asm
index 5a6a518af..2939838ba 100644
--- a/src/test/ref/string-escapes-5.asm
+++ b/src/test/ref/string-escapes-5.asm
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@
 :BasicUpstart(main)
 .pc = $80d "Program"
   .label SCREEN = $400
-.encoding "petscii_mixed"
   .const CH = '\$ff'
 main: {
     ldx #0
diff --git a/src/test/ref/string-escapes-5.log b/src/test/ref/string-escapes-5.log
index 924e5d0b3..3db595a5c 100644
--- a/src/test/ref/string-escapes-5.log
+++ b/src/test/ref/string-escapes-5.log
@@ -40,8 +40,8 @@ SYMBOL TABLE SSA
 (label) @2
 (label) @begin
 (label) @end
-(const byte) CH = (byte) '▒'pm
-(const byte*) MESSAGE[]  = (byte*) "q▒w褐e│r"pm
+(const byte) CH = (byte) '刺'
+(const byte*) MESSAGE[]  = (byte*) "q刺w er"
 (const nomodify byte*) SCREEN = (byte*)(number) $400
 (void()) main()
 (bool~) main::$0
@@ -147,7 +147,6 @@ Target platform is c64basic / MOS6502X
 .pc = $80d "Program"
   // Global Constants & labels
   .label SCREEN = $400
-.encoding "petscii_mixed"
   .const CH = '\$ff'
   // @begin
 __bbegin:
@@ -236,7 +235,6 @@ ASSEMBLER BEFORE OPTIMIZATION
 .pc = $80d "Program"
   // Global Constants & labels
   .label SCREEN = $400
-.encoding "petscii_mixed"
   .const CH = '\$ff'
   // @begin
 __bbegin:
@@ -322,8 +320,8 @@ FINAL SYMBOL TABLE
 (label) @1
 (label) @begin
 (label) @end
-(const byte) CH = (byte) '▒'pm
-(const byte*) MESSAGE[]  = (byte*) "q▒w褐e│r"pm
+(const byte) CH = (byte) '刺'
+(const byte*) MESSAGE[]  = (byte*) "q刺w er"
 (const nomodify byte*) SCREEN = (byte*) 1024
 (void()) main()
 (label) main::@1
@@ -349,7 +347,6 @@ Score: 267
 .pc = $80d "Program"
   // Global Constants & labels
   .label SCREEN = $400
-.encoding "petscii_mixed"
   .const CH = '\$ff'
   // @begin
   // [1] phi from @begin to @1 [phi:@begin->@1]
diff --git a/src/test/ref/string-escapes-5.sym b/src/test/ref/string-escapes-5.sym
index 844f4be7c..d720eedf9 100644
--- a/src/test/ref/string-escapes-5.sym
+++ b/src/test/ref/string-escapes-5.sym
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 (label) @1
 (label) @begin
 (label) @end
-(const byte) CH = (byte) '▒'pm
-(const byte*) MESSAGE[]  = (byte*) "q▒w褐e│r"pm
+(const byte) CH = (byte) '刺'
+(const byte*) MESSAGE[]  = (byte*) "q刺w er"
 (const nomodify byte*) SCREEN = (byte*) 1024
 (void()) main()
 (label) main::@1