diff --git a/engines/xeen/dialogs_input.cpp b/engines/xeen/dialogs_input.cpp
index a0573d20ef6..8346c8e47bf 100644
--- a/engines/xeen/dialogs_input.cpp
+++ b/engines/xeen/dialogs_input.cpp
@@ -120,14 +120,11 @@ Common::KeyCode Input::waitForKey(const Common::String &msg) {
 void Input::animateCursor() {
 	// Iterate through each frame
 	_cursorAnimIndex = _cursorAnimIndex ? _cursorAnimIndex - 1 : 5;
-	static const int CURSOR_ANIMATION_IDS[] = { 32, 124, 126, 127, 126, 124 };
+	static const char CURSOR_ANIMATION_IDS[] = { 32, 124, 126, 127, 126, 124 };
 
 	// Form a string for the cursor and write it out
-	Common::String cursorStr = Common::String::format("%c",
-		CURSOR_ANIMATION_IDS[_cursorAnimIndex]);
-
 	Common::Point writePos = _window->_writePos;
-	_window->writeString(cursorStr);
+	_window->writeCharacter(CURSOR_ANIMATION_IDS[_cursorAnimIndex]);
 	_window->_writePos = writePos;
 }
 
diff --git a/engines/xeen/font.cpp b/engines/xeen/font.cpp
index 1d7dab7e210..3a70c4c8bec 100644
--- a/engines/xeen/font.cpp
+++ b/engines/xeen/font.cpp
@@ -247,6 +247,13 @@ const char *FontSurface::writeString(const Common::String &s, const Common::Rect
 	return _displayString;
 }
 
+void FontSurface::writeCharacter(char c, const Common::Rect &clipRect) {
+	Justify justify = _fontJustify;
+	_fontJustify = JUSTIFY_NONE;
+	writeString(Common::String::format("%c", c), clipRect);
+	_fontJustify = justify;
+}
+
 char FontSurface::getNextChar() {
 	return  *_displayString++ & 0x7f;
 }
diff --git a/engines/xeen/font.h b/engines/xeen/font.h
index d4f10d64b91..ca2cf87ad4f 100644
--- a/engines/xeen/font.h
+++ b/engines/xeen/font.h
@@ -96,6 +96,13 @@ public:
 	 *		justification is set, the message will be written at _writePos
 	 */
 	const char *writeString(const Common::String &s, const Common::Rect &clipRect);
+
+	/**
+	 * Write a charcter to the window
+	 * @param c			Character
+	 * @param clipRect	Window bounds to display string within
+	 */
+	void writeCharacter(char c, const Common::Rect &clipRect);
 };
 
 } // End of namespace Xeen
diff --git a/engines/xeen/window.h b/engines/xeen/window.h
index 23890653007..b63943f9190 100644
--- a/engines/xeen/window.h
+++ b/engines/xeen/window.h
@@ -148,6 +148,14 @@ public:
 	const char *writeString(const Common::String &s) {
 		return FontSurface::writeString(s, _innerBounds);
 	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Write a charcter to the window
+	 * @param c			Character
+	 */
+	void writeCharacter(char c) {
+		FontSurface::writeCharacter(c, _innerBounds);
+	}
 };
 
 } // End of namespace Xeen