diff --git a/filters/sheets/excel/sidewinder/excel.cpp b/filters/sheets/excel/sidewinder/excel.cpp
--- a/filters/sheets/excel/sidewinder/excel.cpp
+++ b/filters/sheets/excel/sidewinder/excel.cpp
@@ -1723,6 +1723,9 @@
         for (; startPict + k + 1 < endPict; k += 2) {
             unsigned zc = readU16(startPict + k);
             if (!zc) break;
+            if ((zc & 0xff00) == 0xf000) { // Wingdings/symbol character have the high bit set. Strip it.
+                zc &= 0x00ff;
+            }
             if (!QChar(zc).isPrint() && zc != 10) {
                 d->text.clear();
                 break;