diff --git a/tools.go b/tools.go
index 1a9d958..bbea1a9 100644
--- a/tools.go
+++ b/tools.go
@@ -691,3 +691,19 @@ func mapOutputs() (map[string]*gdk.Monitor, error) {
 	}
 	return result, nil
 }
+
+// KAdot / https://stackoverflow.com/a/38537764/4040598 - thanks!
+func substring(s string, start int, end int) string {
+	startStrIdx := 0
+	i := 0
+	for j := range s {
+		if i == start {
+			startStrIdx = j
+		}
+		if i == end {
+			return s[startStrIdx:j]
+		}
+		i++
+	}
+	return s[startStrIdx:]
+}
diff --git a/uicomponents.go b/uicomponents.go
index 59d5b72..9000c38 100644
--- a/uicomponents.go
+++ b/uicomponents.go
@@ -58,9 +58,8 @@ func setUpPinnedFlowBox() *gtk.FlowBox {
 				name = entry.Name
 			}
 			if len(name) > 20 {
-				r := []rune(name)
-				name = string(r[:17])
-				name = fmt.Sprintf("%s…", name)
+				r := substring(name, 0, 17)
+				name = fmt.Sprintf("%s…", string(r))
 			}
 			btn.SetLabel(name)
 
@@ -252,9 +251,8 @@ func flowBoxButton(entry desktopEntry) *gtk.Button {
 	button.SetImagePosition(gtk.POS_TOP)
 	name := entry.NameLoc
 	if len(name) > 20 {
-		r := []rune(name[:17])
-		name = string(r)
-		name = fmt.Sprintf("%s…", name)
+		r := substring(name, 0, 17)
+		name = fmt.Sprintf("%s…", string(r))
 	}
 	button.SetLabel(name)
 
@@ -263,9 +261,8 @@ func flowBoxButton(entry desktopEntry) *gtk.Button {
 	terminal := entry.Terminal
 	desc := entry.CommentLoc
 	if len(desc) > 120 {
-		r := []rune(desc[:117])
-		desc = string(r)
-		desc = fmt.Sprintf("%s…", desc)
+		r := substring(desc, 0, 117)
+		desc = fmt.Sprintf("%s…", string(r))
 	}
 	button.Connect("button-release-event", func(btn *gtk.Button, e *gdk.Event) bool {
 		btnEvent := gdk.EventButtonNewFromEvent(e)