diff --git a/src/battle/TrainerAI.lua b/src/battle/TrainerAI.lua
index 9654029a..7eb4bb32 100644
--- a/src/battle/TrainerAI.lua
+++ b/src/battle/TrainerAI.lua
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ function TrainerAI.useItem(battle, item)
   elseif X_STAT[item] then
     local stat = X_STAT[item]
     enemy.stages[stat] = math.min(6, (enemy.stages[stat] or 0) + 1)
-    table.insert(msgs, Strings("%s's\n%s rose!", displayName(enemy), stat:upper()))
+    table.insert(msgs, Strings("%s's\n%s rose!", displayName(enemy), Strings(stat:upper())))
   elseif item == "GUARD_SPEC" then
     enemy.mist = true
     table.insert(msgs, Strings("%s's\nprotected against\nstat changes!", displayName(enemy)))
diff --git a/src/inventory/ItemEffects.lua b/src/inventory/ItemEffects.lua
index a900fec9..678cc517 100644
--- a/src/inventory/ItemEffects.lua
+++ b/src/inventory/ItemEffects.lua
@@ -294,7 +294,7 @@ function ItemEffects.use(data, save, itemId, target, battle, moveIndex, ow)
           "Nothing happened!") }
       end
       b.stages[stat] = cur + 1
-      return "consumed", { Strings("%s's\n%s rose!", b.name, stat:upper()) }
+      return "consumed", { Strings("%s's\n%s rose!", b.name, Strings(stat:upper())) }
     end
     -- ItemUseDireHit/ItemUseGuardSpec always set the bit and consume
     -- the item, even when it is already active
@@ -493,7 +493,7 @@ function ItemEffects.use(data, save, itemId, target, battle, moveIndex, ow)
     -- Spanish ROM puts the stat before the name), so the extracted line
     -- cannot be filled positionally; the engine wording stands
     return "consumed", { Strings("%s's %s\nrose!", monName(data, target),
-      vitaminStat == "hp" and "HP" or vitaminStat:upper()) }
+      Strings(vitaminStat == "hp" and "HP" or vitaminStat:upper())) }
   end
 
   -- PP UP boosts the move the player picked (ItemUsePPUp's move menu)