diff --git a/helpers.py b/helpers.py
index 2b8354a..e2db2da 100644
--- a/helpers.py
+++ b/helpers.py
@@ -113,14 +113,6 @@ def argmax(d, all=False, value=None):
         return [k for k in list(d.keys()) if d[k] == d[maxarg]]
     return maxarg
 
-def safe_str(obj):
-    '''
-    Ugly hack to avoid Python complaining about encodings.
-
-    Call this on any object to turn it into a string which is
-    (hopefully) safe for printing.
-    '''
-    return obj
 
 def less(string):
     '''
@@ -131,6 +123,6 @@ def less(string):
     int_handler = signal.signal(signal.SIGINT, signal.SIG_IGN)
     env = dict(os.environ)
     env['LESSSECURE'] = '1'
-    proc = subprocess.Popen('less', env=env, stdin=subprocess.PIPE)
-    proc.communicate(safe_str(string))
+    proc = subprocess.Popen('less', env=env, encoding='utf-8', stdin=subprocess.PIPE)
+    proc.communicate(string)
     signal.signal(signal.SIGINT, int_handler)
diff --git a/text_interface/buymenu.py b/text_interface/buymenu.py
index 1f0fa24..31ec3aa 100644
--- a/text_interface/buymenu.py
+++ b/text_interface/buymenu.py
@@ -160,6 +160,10 @@ When finished, write an empty line to confirm the purchase.\n'''
                         print(f'USER {t.user.name} HAS LOWER CREDIT THAN {conf.low_credit_warning_limit:d},',
                               'AND SHOULD CONSIDER PUTTING SOME MONEY IN THE BOX.')
 
+        # Superfast mode skips a linebreak for some reason. This looks ugly.
+        # TODO: Figure out why this happens, and fix it in a less hacky way.
+        if self.superfast_mode:
+            print("")
         return True
 
     def complete_input(self):
diff --git a/text_interface/helpermenus.py b/text_interface/helpermenus.py
index 3e0a7d1..f69e5fe 100644
--- a/text_interface/helpermenus.py
+++ b/text_interface/helpermenus.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ from select import select
 
 import conf
 from db import User, Session
-from helpers import search_user, search_product, safe_str, guess_data_type, argmax
+from helpers import search_user, search_product, guess_data_type, argmax
 from text_interface import context_commands, local_help_commands, help_commands, \
     exit_commands
 
@@ -118,11 +118,9 @@ class Menu(object):
                     return result
         while True:
             try:
-                # result = None
-                # It is replaced either way
                 if timeout:
                     # assuming line buffering
-                    sys.stdout.write(safe_str(prompt))
+                    sys.stdout.write(prompt)
                     sys.stdout.flush()
                     rlist, _, _ = select([sys.stdin], [], [], timeout)
                     if not rlist:
@@ -131,7 +129,7 @@ class Menu(object):
                     else:
                         result = input().strip()
                 else:
-                    result = input(safe_str(prompt)).strip()
+                    result = input(prompt).strip()
             except EOFError:
                 print('quit')
                 self.exit_menu()
@@ -207,6 +205,7 @@ class Menu(object):
         print('Please enter a valid choice.')
 
     def input_int(self, prompt=None, allowed_range=(None, None), null_allowed=False, default=None):
+        # TODO: Proper default handling
         if prompt is None:
             prompt = self.prompt
         while True: