diff --git a/Source/Core/Common/Src/FileUtil.cpp b/Source/Core/Common/Src/FileUtil.cpp
index 29b7bb5403..e267c8a662 100644
--- a/Source/Core/Common/Src/FileUtil.cpp
+++ b/Source/Core/Common/Src/FileUtil.cpp
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 #include "CommonPaths.h"
 #include "FileUtil.h"
 #include "StringUtil.h"
+#include "ConfigManager.h"
 
 #ifdef _WIN32
 #include <windows.h>
@@ -669,7 +670,7 @@ std::string GetSysDirectory()
 
 // Returns a string with a Dolphin data dir or file in the user's home
 // directory. To be used in "multi-user" mode (that is, installed).
-std::string &GetUserPath(const unsigned int DirIDX, const std::string &newPath)
+const std::string& GetUserPath(const unsigned int DirIDX, const std::string &newPath)
 {
 	static std::string paths[NUM_PATH_INDICES];
 
@@ -742,6 +743,20 @@ std::string &GetUserPath(const unsigned int DirIDX, const std::string &newPath)
 	return paths[DirIDX];
 }
 
+std::string GetThemeDir()
+{
+	std::string theme = SConfig::GetInstance().m_LocalCoreStartupParameter.theme_name + "/";
+	std::string dir = File::GetUserPath(D_THEMES_IDX) + theme;
+
+#if !defined(_WIN32)
+	// If theme does not exist in user's dir load from shared directory
+	if (!File::Exists(dir))
+		dir = SHARED_USER_DIR THEMES_DIR "/" + theme;
+#endif
+	
+	return dir;
+}
+
 bool WriteStringToFile(bool text_file, const std::string &str, const char *filename)
 {
 	return File::IOFile(filename, text_file ? "w" : "wb").WriteBytes(str.data(), str.size());
diff --git a/Source/Core/Common/Src/FileUtil.h b/Source/Core/Common/Src/FileUtil.h
index 2747c50cf4..9376f272c8 100644
--- a/Source/Core/Common/Src/FileUtil.h
+++ b/Source/Core/Common/Src/FileUtil.h
@@ -132,7 +132,10 @@ bool SetCurrentDir(const std::string &directory);
 
 // Returns a pointer to a string with a Dolphin data dir in the user's home
 // directory. To be used in "multi-user" mode (that is, installed).
-std::string &GetUserPath(const unsigned int DirIDX, const std::string &newPath="");
+const std::string& GetUserPath(const unsigned int DirIDX, const std::string &newPath="");
+
+// probably doesn't belong here
+std::string GetThemeDir();
 
 // Returns the path to where the sys file are
 std::string GetSysDirectory();
diff --git a/Source/Core/DolphinWX/Src/ConfigMain.cpp b/Source/Core/DolphinWX/Src/ConfigMain.cpp
index 4272d9ef90..3240070c14 100644
--- a/Source/Core/DolphinWX/Src/ConfigMain.cpp
+++ b/Source/Core/DolphinWX/Src/ConfigMain.cpp
@@ -617,16 +617,17 @@ void CConfigMain::CreateGUIControls()
 		SplitPath(filename, NULL, &name, &ext);
 
 		name += ext;
-		if (-1 == theme_selection->FindString(name))
-			theme_selection->Append(name);
+		auto const wxname = StrToWxStr(name);
+		if (-1 == theme_selection->FindString(wxname))
+			theme_selection->Append(wxname);
 	});
 	
-	theme_selection->SetStringSelection(SConfig::GetInstance().m_LocalCoreStartupParameter.theme_name);
+	theme_selection->SetStringSelection(StrToWxStr(SConfig::GetInstance().m_LocalCoreStartupParameter.theme_name));
 
 	// std::function = avoid error on msvc
 	theme_selection->Bind(wxEVT_COMMAND_CHOICE_SELECTED, std::function<void(wxEvent&)>([theme_selection](wxEvent&)
 	{
-		SConfig::GetInstance().m_LocalCoreStartupParameter.theme_name = theme_selection->GetStringSelection();
+		SConfig::GetInstance().m_LocalCoreStartupParameter.theme_name = WxStrToStr(theme_selection->GetStringSelection());
 		main_frame->InitBitmaps();
 		main_frame->UpdateGameList();
 	}));
diff --git a/Source/Core/DolphinWX/Src/FrameTools.cpp b/Source/Core/DolphinWX/Src/FrameTools.cpp
index 8462a82490..8c33575fc4 100644
--- a/Source/Core/DolphinWX/Src/FrameTools.cpp
+++ b/Source/Core/DolphinWX/Src/FrameTools.cpp
@@ -509,14 +509,7 @@ void CFrame::RecreateToolbar()
 
 void CFrame::InitBitmaps()
 {
-	std::string theme(SConfig::GetInstance().m_LocalCoreStartupParameter.theme_name + "/");
-	std::string dir(File::GetUserPath(D_THEMES_IDX) + theme);
-
-#if !defined(_WIN32)
-	// If theme does not exist in user's dir load from shared directory
-	if (!File::Exists(dir))
-		dir = SHARED_USER_DIR THEMES_DIR "/" + theme;
-#endif
+	auto const dir = StrToWxStr(File::GetThemeDir());
 
 	m_Bitmaps[Toolbar_FileOpen].LoadFile(dir + "open.png", wxBITMAP_TYPE_PNG);
 	m_Bitmaps[Toolbar_Refresh].LoadFile(dir + "refresh.png", wxBITMAP_TYPE_PNG);
diff --git a/Source/Core/DolphinWX/Src/ISOFile.cpp b/Source/Core/DolphinWX/Src/ISOFile.cpp
index f28a6bca03..584e35d0d9 100644
--- a/Source/Core/DolphinWX/Src/ISOFile.cpp
+++ b/Source/Core/DolphinWX/Src/ISOFile.cpp
@@ -137,16 +137,8 @@ GameListItem::GameListItem(const std::string& _rFileName)
 	}
 	else
 	{
-		std::string theme = SConfig::GetInstance().m_LocalCoreStartupParameter.theme_name + "/";
-		std::string dir = File::GetUserPath(D_THEMES_IDX) + theme;
-
-#if !defined(_WIN32)
-		// If theme does not exist in user's dir load from shared directory
-		if (!File::Exists(dir))
-			dir = SHARED_USER_DIR THEMES_DIR "/" + theme;
-#endif
 		// default banner
-		m_Image = wxImage(dir + "nobanner.png", wxBITMAP_TYPE_PNG);
+		m_Image = wxImage(StrToWxStr(File::GetThemeDir()) + "nobanner.png", wxBITMAP_TYPE_PNG);
 	}
 }