diff --git a/headers/os/support/UTF8.h b/headers/os/support/UTF8.h
index d6d5a7067f..6260762c1c 100644
--- a/headers/os/support/UTF8.h
+++ b/headers/os/support/UTF8.h
@@ -61,6 +61,15 @@ _IMPEXP_TEXTENCODING status_t convert_from_utf8(uint32		dstEncoding,
 												int32		*state,
 												char		substitute = B_SUBSTITUTE);
 
+/*-------------------------------------------------------------*/
+/*------- Utility Functions -----------------------------------*/
+
+// Suggested by BGA
+inline uint32 utf8_char_len(uchar c)
+{
+	return (((0xE5000000 >> (((c) >> 3) & 0x1E)) & 3) + 1);
+}
+
 /*-------------------------------------------------------------*/
 /*-------------------------------------------------------------*/
 
diff --git a/src/kits/support/String.cpp b/src/kits/support/String.cpp
index 92eecd35b7..5a300f0430 100644
--- a/src/kits/support/String.cpp
+++ b/src/kits/support/String.cpp
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
 #define DEBUG 1
 #include <Debug.h>
 #include <String.h>
+#include <UTF8.h>
 
 // Temporary Includes
 #include "string_helper.h"
@@ -92,7 +93,9 @@ BString::CountChars() const
 		count++;
 
 		// Jump to next UTF8 character
-		for (; (*ptr & 0xc0) == 0x80; ptr++);
+		// for (; (*ptr & 0xc0) == 0x80; ptr++);
+		// ejaesler: BGA's nifty function
+		ptr += utf8_char_len(*ptr);
 	}
 
 	return count;