diff --git a/common/drawpanel_gal.cpp b/common/drawpanel_gal.cpp
index 4f028531c4..d1231291b6 100644
--- a/common/drawpanel_gal.cpp
+++ b/common/drawpanel_gal.cpp
@@ -53,7 +53,8 @@ EDA_DRAW_PANEL_GAL::EDA_DRAW_PANEL_GAL( wxWindow* aParentWindow, wxWindowID aWin
 
     wxStandardPaths paths;
     wxFileName executableFile( paths.GetExecutablePath() );
-    m_galShaderPath = std::string( executableFile.GetPath() + "/../../common/gal/opengl/shader/" );
+    m_galShaderPath = std::string( ( executableFile.GetPath() +
+                                   wxT( "/../../common/gal/opengl/shader/" ) ).mb_str() );
 
     SwitchBackend( aGalType, false );
     SetBackgroundStyle( wxBG_STYLE_CUSTOM );