diff --git a/src/main/java/com/tonic/launcher/ui/SplashScreen.java b/src/main/java/com/tonic/launcher/ui/SplashScreen.java
index 3c3463c..130d75d 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/tonic/launcher/ui/SplashScreen.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/tonic/launcher/ui/SplashScreen.java
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ public SplashScreen() {
      */
     public void setStageProgress(int progress, String text) {
         this.stageProgress = Math.max(0, Math.min(100, progress));
-        this.stageText = text;
+        this.stageText = sanitizeStatusText(text);
         SwingUtilities.invokeLater(splashPanel::repaint);
     }
 
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ public void setOverallProgress(int progress) {
     public void setProgress(int stageProgress, int overallProgress, String text) {
         this.stageProgress = Math.max(0, Math.min(100, stageProgress));
         this.overallProgress = Math.max(0, Math.min(100, overallProgress));
-        this.stageText = text;
+        this.stageText = sanitizeStatusText(text);
         SwingUtilities.invokeLater(splashPanel::repaint);
     }
 
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ public void setProgressAndStatus(int progress, String text) {
     }
 
     public void setError(String message) {
-        this.stageText = message;
+        this.stageText = sanitizeStatusText(message);
         this.isError = true;
         SwingUtilities.invokeLater(() -> {
             closeButton.setVisible(true);
@@ -95,6 +95,24 @@ public void setError(String message) {
         });
     }
 
+    private String sanitizeStatusText(String text) {
+        if (text == null || text.isEmpty()) {
+            return "";
+        }
+
+        StringBuilder sanitized = new StringBuilder(text.length());
+        for (int i = 0; i < text.length(); i++) {
+            char currentChar = text.charAt(i);
+            if (currentChar >= 32 && currentChar <= 126) {
+                sanitized.append(currentChar);
+            } else {
+                sanitized.append(' ');
+            }
+        }
+
+        return sanitized.toString().replaceAll("\\s+", " ").trim();
+    }
+
     public boolean isError() {
         return isError;
     }
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/tonic/launcher/util/JDKManager.java b/src/main/java/com/tonic/launcher/util/JDKManager.java
index ba96fdc..e9da945 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/tonic/launcher/util/JDKManager.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/tonic/launcher/util/JDKManager.java
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ private static void downloadFile(String url, Path destination, SplashScreen spla
                             }
                         }
 
-                        lastSpeedEta = String.format(" • %.1f MB/s • %s left", speedMBps, etaStr);
+                        lastSpeedEta = String.format(" | %.1f MB/s | %s left", speedMBps, etaStr);
                         lastSpeedUpdate = currentTime;
                         bytesAtLastSpeedUpdate = totalBytes;
                     }