diff --git a/programs/explorer/desktop.c b/programs/explorer/desktop.c
index 6f1ff54c143..f525c23d819 100644
--- a/programs/explorer/desktop.c
+++ b/programs/explorer/desktop.c
@@ -1041,7 +1041,7 @@ void manage_desktop( WCHAR *arg )
             initialize_systray( graphics_driver, using_root, enable_shell );
             if (!using_root) initialize_launchers( hwnd );
 
-            if ((shell32 = LoadLibraryA( "shell32.dll" )) &&
+            if ((shell32 = LoadLibraryW( L"shell32.dll" )) &&
                 (pShellDDEInit = (void *)GetProcAddress( shell32, (LPCSTR)188)))
             {
                 pShellDDEInit( TRUE );
diff --git a/programs/explorer/startmenu.c b/programs/explorer/startmenu.c
index f5f50bb3e72..3173ae21fc6 100644
--- a/programs/explorer/startmenu.c
+++ b/programs/explorer/startmenu.c
@@ -375,7 +375,7 @@ static void run_dialog(void)
                                LPCSTR lpszTitle, LPCSTR lpszDesc, DWORD dwFlags);
     HMODULE hShell32;
 
-    hShell32 = LoadLibraryA("shell32");
+    hShell32 = LoadLibraryW(L"shell32");
     pRunFileDlg = (void*)GetProcAddress(hShell32, (LPCSTR)61);
 
     pRunFileDlg(NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL, 0);