diff --git a/src/core/game3/battle/engine.lua b/src/core/game3/battle/engine.lua
index 3cb64397..eb64fa8f 100644
--- a/src/core/game3/battle/engine.lua
+++ b/src/core/game3/battle/engine.lua
@@ -2079,14 +2079,19 @@ function Engine.canSwitch(st, adapter, battler)
   if not battler then return true end
   if battler.expTrapped or battler.escapePrevention or (battler.expTrapTurns or 0) > 0 or battler.expIngrain then
     -- src/party_menu.c:5964
-    return false, RomText.ascii("gText_PkmnCantSwitchOut", { stringVars = { adapter:displayName(battler) } })
+    local name = (adapter and adapter.displayName and adapter:displayName(battler)) or "POKéMON"
+    local ok, txt = pcall(RomText.ascii, "gText_PkmnCantSwitchOut", { stringVars = { name } })
+    if ok and txt then return false, txt end
+    return false, name .. " can't be switched out!"
   end
   local holder, ab = Abilities.escapeBlocker(adapter, battler)
   if holder then
     -- src/pokemon.c:6029
-    return false, State.text(st, "gText_PkmnsXPreventsSwitching", {
+    local ok, txt = pcall(State.text, st, "gText_PkmnsXPreventsSwitching", {
       buff1 = State.prefixedName(st, holder), lastAbility = Abilities.id(ab),
     })
+    if ok and txt then return false, txt end
+    return false, "Can't escape!"
   end
   return true
 end
diff --git a/src/core/game3/battle/state.lua b/src/core/game3/battle/state.lua
index cbdd8ddb..d8da8396 100644
--- a/src/core/game3/battle/state.lua
+++ b/src/core/game3/battle/state.lua
@@ -389,13 +389,13 @@ function State.text(st, id, fill)
   return require("src.core.game3.battle.battle_text").get(id, fill)
 end
 
--- src/battle_message.c:2248
 function State.prefixedName(st, battler, name)
   name = name or State.displayName(battler)
   if battler and battler.side == "player" then return name end
   local RomText = require("src.core.game3.rom_text")
   local prefix = (st ~= nil and not st.wild) and "sText_FoePkmnPrefix" or "sText_WildPkmnPrefix"
-  return RomText.plain(prefix) .. name
+  local ok, pre = pcall(RomText.plain, prefix)
+  return (ok and pre or (st ~= nil and not st.wild and "Foe " or "Wild ")) .. name
 end
 
 function State.isFainted(battler)