diff --git a/st.c b/st.c
index 49357cc..134e724 100644
--- a/st.c
+++ b/st.c
@@ -2422,6 +2422,9 @@ check_control_code:
 	 * they must not cause conflicts with sequences.
 	 */
 	if (control) {
+		/* in UTF-8 mode ignore handling C1 control characters */
+		if (IS_SET(MODE_UTF8) && ISCONTROLC1(u))
+			return;
 		tcontrolcode(u);
 		/*
 		 * control codes are not shown ever