diff --git a/src/preprocessor.cpp b/src/preprocessor.cpp
index 72fff0ac4..ed56198d6 100644
--- a/src/preprocessor.cpp
+++ b/src/preprocessor.cpp
@@ -261,15 +261,6 @@ std::string Preprocessor::read(std::istream &istr)
         if (ch == '\n')
             ++lineno;
 
-        // UTF / extended ASCII => The output from the preprocessor should
-        // only be standard ASCII.
-        // In C/C++ code the UTF and extented ASCII (8-bit ASCII) can only
-        // appear in comments, strings and char constants. So the safest thing
-        // to do is replace it with space char. We CAN'T change string lengths
-        // by ignoring characters.
-        if (ch < 0)
-            ch = ' ';
-
         // Replace assorted special chars with spaces..
         if ((ch != '\n') && (std::isspace(ch) || std::iscntrl(ch)))
             ch = ' ';
diff --git a/test/testpreprocessor.cpp b/test/testpreprocessor.cpp
index 8f2e4566b..73d5470ab 100644
--- a/test/testpreprocessor.cpp
+++ b/test/testpreprocessor.cpp
@@ -1000,7 +1000,7 @@ private:
     {
         const char filedata[] = {'a', (char)200, 0};
         std::istringstream istr(filedata);
-        ASSERT_EQUALS(Preprocessor::read(istr), "a ");
+        ASSERT_THROW(Preprocessor::read(istr), std::runtime_error);
     }
 
     void define_part_of_func()