diff --git a/lslopt/lslparse.py b/lslopt/lslparse.py
index 6461298..ff43533 100644
--- a/lslopt/lslparse.py
+++ b/lslopt/lslparse.py
@@ -44,26 +44,20 @@ def isalphanum_(c):
 def ishex(c):
     return '0' <= c <= '9' or 'A' <= c <= 'F' or 'a' <= c <= 'f'
 
-def fieldpos(inp, sep, n):
-    """Return the starting position of field n in a string inp that has zero or
-    more fields separated by sep
-    """
-    i = -1
-    for n in xrange(n):
-        i = inp.find(sep, i + 1)
-        if i < 0:
-            return i
-    return i + 1
+def GetErrLineCol(parser):
+    errorpos = parser.errorpos
+    lno = parser.script.count('\n', 0, errorpos)
+    lstart = parser.script.rfind('\n', 0, errorpos) + 1
+    # Find column number in characters
+    cno = len(parser.script[lstart:errorpos].decode('utf8'))
+    return (lno + 1, cno + 1)
 
 class EParse(Exception):
-
     def __init__(self, parser, msg):
         self.errorpos = parser.errorpos
-        self.lno = parser.script.count('\n', 0, self.errorpos)
-        self.cno = self.errorpos - fieldpos(parser.script, '\n', self.lno)
-        # Note the column number reported is in bytes.
+        self.lno, self.cno = GetErrLineCol(parser)
 
-        msg = u"(Line %d char %d): ERROR: %s" % (self.lno + 1, self.cno + 1, msg)
+        msg = u"(Line %d char %d): ERROR: %s" % (self.lno, self.cno, msg)
         super(EParse, self).__init__(msg)
 
 class EParseUEOF(EParse):
diff --git a/main.py b/main.py
index 8648af8..65b22f7 100755
--- a/main.py
+++ b/main.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 
 # This is the main executable program that imports the libraries.
 
-from lslopt.lslparse import parser,EParse,fieldpos
+from lslopt.lslparse import parser,EParse
 from lslopt.lsloutput import outscript
 from lslopt.lsloptimizer import optimizer
 import sys, os, getopt, re
@@ -30,11 +30,29 @@ VERSION = '0.2.1beta'
 
 
 def ReportError(script, e):
-    lastpos = fieldpos(script, '\n', e.lno+1)-1
-    assert lastpos != -1
-    if lastpos < -1: lastpos = len(script) # may hit EOF
-    sys.stderr.write(script[fieldpos(script, '\n', e.lno):lastpos].decode('utf8') + u"\n")
-    sys.stderr.write(u" " * e.cno + u"^\n")
+    linestart = script.rfind(b'\n', 0, e.errorpos) + 1
+    lineend = script.find(b'\n', e.errorpos)
+    if lineend == -1: lineend = len(script) # may hit EOF
+
+    # When the encoding of stderr is unknown (e.g. when redirected to a file),
+    # output will be encoded in UTF-8; otherwise the terminal's encoding will
+    # be used.
+    enc = sys.stderr.encoding if sys.stderr.encoding is not None else 'utf8'
+
+    # Synchronize the UTF-8 encoded line with the output line in the
+    # terminal's encoding. We need to compensate for the fact that the
+    # reported column applies to the UTF-8 version of the script.
+    # 1. Trim the UTF-8 line.
+    err_frag = script[linestart:e.errorpos]
+    # 2. Convert to Unicode; encode in the target encoding with replacing.
+    err_frag = err_frag.decode('utf8').encode(enc, 'backslashreplace')
+    # 3. Collect our prize: the length of that in characters.
+    cno = len(err_frag.decode(enc))
+
+    # Write the whole line in the target encoding.
+    err_line = script[linestart:lineend] + b'\n'
+    sys.stderr.write(err_line.decode('utf8').encode(enc, 'backslashreplace'))
+    sys.stderr.write(u" " * cno + u"^\n")
     sys.stderr.write(e.args[0] + u"\n")
 
 class UniConvScript(object):
diff --git a/testparser.py b/testparser.py
index de55560..f6e922f 100644
--- a/testparser.py
+++ b/testparser.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 from lslopt.lslparse import parser,EParseSyntax,EParseUEOF,EParseAlreadyDefined,\
     EParseUndefined,EParseTypeMismatch,EParseReturnShouldBeEmpty,EParseReturnIsEmpty,\
     EParseInvalidField,EParseFunctionMismatch,EParseDeclarationScope,\
-    EParseDuplicateLabel,EParseCantChangeState,EParseCodePathWithoutRet,fieldpos
+    EParseDuplicateLabel,EParseCantChangeState,EParseCodePathWithoutRet
 from lslopt.lsloutput import outscript
 from lslopt.lsloptimizer import optimizer
 from lslopt import lslfuncs
@@ -217,7 +217,6 @@ class Test02_Parser(UnitTestCase):
             ))
         print self.parser.scopeindex
 
-        self.assertEqual(fieldpos("a,b", ",", 3), -1)
         self.assertEqual(self.outscript.Value2LSL(lslfuncs.Key(u'')), '((key)"")')
         self.assertRaises(AssertionError, self.outscript.Value2LSL, '')
 
@@ -528,7 +527,7 @@ class Test03_Optimizer(UnitTestCase):
             self.assertFalse(True)
         except EParseSyntax as e:
             # should err before first closing brace
-            self.assertEqual(e.cno, 27)
+            self.assertEqual(e.cno, 28)
         except:
             # should raise no other exception
             self.assertFalse(True)