diff --git a/drivel.go b/drivel.go
index 067aa7c..7ad2962 100644
--- a/drivel.go
+++ b/drivel.go
@@ -344,14 +344,15 @@ func splitStatus(status string) []string {
 	words := strings.Split(status, " ")
 	s := ""
 	for _, word := range words {
-		if s == "" && len(word) <= CHARACTER_LIMIT {
+		asRunes := []rune(word)
+		if s == "" && len(asRunes) <= CHARACTER_LIMIT {
 			s = word
-		} else if len(s)+1+len(word) <= CHARACTER_LIMIT {
+		} else if len(s)+1+len(asRunes) <= CHARACTER_LIMIT {
 			s = s + " " + word
 		} else {
 			split = append(split, s)
-			bound := goutil.IntMin(len(word), CHARACTER_LIMIT)
-			s = string([]rune(word)[:bound])
+			bound := goutil.IntMin(len(asRunes), CHARACTER_LIMIT)
+			s = string(asRunes[:bound])
 		}
 	}
 	if s != "" {