diff --git a/lib/imc_channel.hpp b/lib/imc_channel.hpp
index 0c801fb..87a2475 100644
--- a/lib/imc_channel.hpp
+++ b/lib/imc_channel.hpp
@@ -496,28 +496,35 @@ namespace imc
     // convert any description, units etc. to UTF-8 (by default)
     void convert_encoding()
     {
+      // actual input codepage
+      std::string cpn;
+
       if ( !codepage_.empty() )
       {
         // construct iconv-compatible name for respective codepage
-        std::string cpn = std::string("CP") + codepage_;
-
-        // set up converter
-        std::string utf = std::string("UTF-8");
-        iconverter conv(cpn,utf);
-
-        conv.convert(name_);
-        conv.convert(comment_);
-        conv.convert(origin_);
-        conv.convert(origin_comment_);
-        conv.convert(text_);
-        conv.convert(language_code_);
-        conv.convert(yname_);
-        conv.convert(yunit_);
-        conv.convert(xname_);
-        conv.convert(xunit_);
-        conv.convert(group_name_);
-        conv.convert(group_comment_);
+        cpn = std::string("CP") + codepage_;
       }
+      else {
+	// assume codepage 1252 by default
+	cpn = std::string("CP1252");
+      }
+
+      // set up converter
+      std::string utf = std::string("UTF-8");
+      iconverter conv(cpn,utf);
+
+      conv.convert(name_);
+      conv.convert(comment_);
+      conv.convert(origin_);
+      conv.convert(origin_comment_);
+      conv.convert(text_);
+      conv.convert(language_code_);
+      conv.convert(yname_);
+      conv.convert(yunit_);
+      conv.convert(xname_);
+      conv.convert(xunit_);
+      conv.convert(group_name_);
+      conv.convert(group_comment_);
     }
 
     // get info string