diff --git a/include/SDL_system.h b/include/SDL_system.h
index 0c5348f4b..9cc1ab80d 100644
--- a/include/SDL_system.h
+++ b/include/SDL_system.h
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ extern DECLSPEC const char * SDLCALL SDL_AndroidGetExternalStoragePath();
    which do not work on Windows Phone 8 (and will return NULL if called
    from this platform).
  */
-extern DECLSPEC const char * SDLCALL SDL_WinRTGetLocalFolderPath();
+extern DECLSPEC const wchar_t * SDLCALL SDL_WinRTGetLocalFolderPath();
 
 /* Gets the path to the roaming app data store.
    Files and directories that should roam to different devices can be
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ extern DECLSPEC const char * SDLCALL SDL_WinRTGetLocalFolderPath();
    as Windows Phone 8 apps do not have an accessible roaming app data
    store.
  */
-extern DECLSPEC const char * SDLCALL SDL_WinRTGetRoamingFolderPath();
+extern DECLSPEC const wchar_t * SDLCALL SDL_WinRTGetRoamingFolderPath();
 
 /* Gets the path to the temporary app data store.
    Files and directories may be written here, however they may be deleted
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ extern DECLSPEC const char * SDLCALL SDL_WinRTGetRoamingFolderPath();
    as Windows Phone 8 apps do not have an accessible temporary app data
    store.
 */
-extern DECLSPEC const char * SDLCALL SDL_WinRTGetTemporaryFolderPath();
+extern DECLSPEC const wchar_t * SDLCALL SDL_WinRTGetTemporaryFolderPath();
 
 #endif /* __WINRT__ */
 
diff --git a/src/core/windowsrt/SDL_winrtpaths.cpp b/src/core/windowsrt/SDL_winrtpaths.cpp
index fc33a86ed..40c05dc20 100644
--- a/src/core/windowsrt/SDL_winrtpaths.cpp
+++ b/src/core/windowsrt/SDL_winrtpaths.cpp
@@ -7,37 +7,56 @@
 #ifdef __WINRT__
 
 extern "C" {
+#include "SDL_error.h"
+#include "SDL_stdinc.h"
 #include "SDL_system.h"
 #include "../windows/SDL_windows.h"
 }
 
 using namespace Windows::Storage;
 
-extern "C" const char * SDL_WinRTGetLocalFolderPath()
+static const wchar_t *
+WINRT_CopySystemPath(Windows::Storage::StorageFolder ^ folder)
 {
-    static const char * path = nullptr;
+    const wchar_t * srcPath = folder->Path->Data();
+    const size_t srcPathLen = SDL_wcslen(srcPath);
+    wchar_t * destPath = (wchar_t *) SDL_calloc(srcPathLen + 1, sizeof(wchar_t));
+    if (!destPath) {
+        SDL_OutOfMemory();
+        return NULL;
+    }
+    SDL_wcslcpy(destPath, srcPath, srcPathLen + 1);
+    return destPath;
+}
+
+extern "C" const wchar_t *
+SDL_WinRTGetLocalFolderPath()
+{
+    static const wchar_t * path = nullptr;
     if (!path) {
-        path = WIN_StringToUTF8(ApplicationData::Current->LocalFolder->Path->Data());
+        path = WINRT_CopySystemPath(ApplicationData::Current->LocalFolder);
     }
     return path;
 }
 
-extern "C" const char * SDL_WinRTGetRoamingFolderPath()
+extern "C" const wchar_t *
+SDL_WinRTGetRoamingFolderPath()
 {
     // TODO, WinRT: make SDL_WinRTGetRoamingFolderPath return NULL on Windows Phone 8
-    static const char * path = nullptr;
+    static const wchar_t * path = nullptr;
     if (!path) {
-        path = WIN_StringToUTF8(ApplicationData::Current->RoamingFolder->Path->Data());
+        path = WINRT_CopySystemPath(ApplicationData::Current->RoamingFolder);
     }
     return path;
 }
 
-extern "C" const char * SDL_WinRTGetTemporaryFolderPath()
+extern "C" const wchar_t *
+SDL_WinRTGetTemporaryFolderPath()
 {
     // TODO, WinRT: make SDL_WinRTGetTemporaryFolderPath return NULL on Windows Phone 8
-    static const char * path = nullptr;
+    static const wchar_t * path = nullptr;
     if (!path) {
-        path = WIN_StringToUTF8(ApplicationData::Current->TemporaryFolder->Path->Data());
+        path = WINRT_CopySystemPath(ApplicationData::Current->TemporaryFolder);
     }
     return path;
 }