diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwclass/misc.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwclass/misc.cpp
index 4e165d6526..3aa5544b74 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwclass/misc.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwclass/misc.cpp
@@ -203,9 +203,9 @@ namespace MWClass
 
     std::unique_ptr<MWWorld::Action> Miscellaneous::use (const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr, bool force) const
     {
-        const char soulgem_prefix[] = "misc_soulgem";
+        const std::string soulgemPrefix = "misc_soulgem";
 
-        if (::Misc::StringUtils::ciCompareLen(ptr.getCellRef().getRefId(), soulgem_prefix, sizeof(soulgem_prefix) - 1) == 0)
+        if (::Misc::StringUtils::ciCompareLen(ptr.getCellRef().getRefId(), soulgemPrefix, soulgemPrefix.length()) == 0)
             return std::make_unique<MWWorld::ActionSoulgem>(ptr);
 
         return std::make_unique<MWWorld::NullAction>();
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwscript/containerextensions.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwscript/containerextensions.cpp
index 1bbaa9b60f..8699d3dfe4 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwscript/containerextensions.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwscript/containerextensions.cpp
@@ -307,9 +307,9 @@ namespace MWScript
 
                     // With soul gems we prefer filled ones.
 
-                    const char soulgem_prefix[] = "misc_soulgem";
+                    const std::string soulgemPrefix = "misc_soulgem";
 
-                    if (::Misc::StringUtils::ciCompareLen(item, soulgem_prefix, sizeof(soulgem_prefix) - 1) == 0)
+                    if (::Misc::StringUtils::ciCompareLen(item, soulgemPrefix, soulgemPrefix.length()) == 0)
                     {
                         it = invStore.end();
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/actionsoulgem.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/actionsoulgem.cpp
index 72efa6d4ec..b416581fa7 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/actionsoulgem.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/actionsoulgem.cpp
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
         }
 
         const auto& target = getTarget();
-        const auto& targetSoul = target.getCellRef().getSoul();
+        const std::string targetSoul = target.getCellRef().getSoul();
 
         if (targetSoul.empty())
         {
@@ -40,9 +40,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
 
         if (!MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getStore().get<ESM::Creature>().search(targetSoul))
         {
-            const auto& message = "Unknown soul creature id \"" + targetSoul + "\".";
-            Log(Debug::Warning) << message;
-            MWBase::Environment::get().getWindowManager()->messageBox(message);
+            Log(Debug::Warning) << "Soul '" << targetSoul << "' not found (item: '" << target.getCellRef().getRefId() << "')";
             return;
         }