diff --git a/common/text_eval/text_eval_parser.cpp b/common/text_eval/text_eval_parser.cpp
index c061dd4f5b..6f362d4ea0 100644
--- a/common/text_eval/text_eval_parser.cpp
+++ b/common/text_eval/text_eval_parser.cpp
@@ -525,28 +525,28 @@ auto EVAL_VISITOR::evaluateFunction( const FUNC_DATA& aFunc ) const -> Result<Va
         {
             wxString result = VALUE_UTILS::ToString( argValues[0] );
 
-            result = result.BeforeFirst( VALUE_UTILS::ToString( argValues[1] )[0] );
+            result = result.BeforeFirst( VALUE_UTILS::ToChar( argValues[1] ) );
             return MakeValue<Value>( result.ToStdString() );
         }
         else if( name == "beforelast" && argc == 2 )
         {
             wxString result = VALUE_UTILS::ToString( argValues[0] );
 
-            result = result.BeforeLast( VALUE_UTILS::ToString( argValues[1] )[0] );
+            result = result.BeforeLast( VALUE_UTILS::ToChar( argValues[1] ) );
             return MakeValue<Value>( result.ToStdString() );
         }
         else if( name == "afterfirst" && argc == 2 )
         {
             wxString result = VALUE_UTILS::ToString( argValues[0] );
 
-            result = result.AfterFirst( VALUE_UTILS::ToString( argValues[1] )[0] );
+            result = result.AfterFirst( VALUE_UTILS::ToChar( argValues[1] ) );
             return MakeValue<Value>( result.ToStdString() );
         }
         else if( name == "afterlast" && argc == 2 )
         {
             wxString result = VALUE_UTILS::ToString( argValues[0] );
 
-            result = result.AfterLast( VALUE_UTILS::ToString( argValues[1] )[0] );
+            result = result.AfterLast( VALUE_UTILS::ToChar( argValues[1] ) );
             return MakeValue<Value>( result.ToStdString() );
         }
 
diff --git a/include/text_eval/text_eval_parser.h b/include/text_eval/text_eval_parser.h
index 37a94ba74d..fb234e068a 100644
--- a/include/text_eval/text_eval_parser.h
+++ b/include/text_eval/text_eval_parser.h
@@ -133,6 +133,16 @@ namespace calc_parser
             return fmt::format( "{}", num );
         }
 
+        static auto ToChar( const Value& aVal ) -> char
+        {
+            std::string str = ToString( aVal );
+
+            if( str.empty() )
+                return ' ';
+            else
+                return str[0];
+        }
+
         // Check if Value represents a "truthy" value for conditionals
         static auto IsTruthy( const Value& aVal ) -> bool
         {