diff --git a/src/sfizz/Opcode.cpp b/src/sfizz/Opcode.cpp
index ff6cbc6d..1a60ff78 100644
--- a/src/sfizz/Opcode.cpp
+++ b/src/sfizz/Opcode.cpp
@@ -132,18 +132,27 @@ absl::optional<uint8_t> readNoteValue(absl::string_view value)
     absl::string_view validFlatLetters = "degab";
 
     ///
-    char sharpOrFlatLetter = absl::ascii_tolower(value.empty() ? '\0' : value.front());
-    if (sharpOrFlatLetter == '#') {
-        if (validSharpLetters.find(noteLetter) == absl::string_view::npos)
-            return {};
-        ++noteNumber;
-        value.remove_prefix(1);
-    }
-    else if (sharpOrFlatLetter == 'b') {
-        if (validFlatLetters.find(noteLetter) == absl::string_view::npos)
-            return {};
-        --noteNumber;
-        value.remove_prefix(1);
+    std::pair<absl::string_view, int> flatSharpPrefixes[] = {
+        {   "#", +1 },
+        { u8"♯", +1 },
+        {   "b", -1 },
+        { u8"♭", -1 },
+    };
+
+    for (const auto& prefix : flatSharpPrefixes) {
+        if (absl::StartsWith(value, prefix.first)) {
+            if (prefix.second == +1) {
+                if (validSharpLetters.find(noteLetter) == absl::string_view::npos)
+                    return {};
+            }
+            else if (prefix.second == -1) {
+                if (validFlatLetters.find(noteLetter) == absl::string_view::npos)
+                    return {};
+            }
+            noteNumber += prefix.second;
+            value.remove_prefix(prefix.first.size());
+            break;
+        }
     }
 
     int octaveNumber;
diff --git a/tests/OpcodeT.cpp b/tests/OpcodeT.cpp
index 23cfdda0..24d6a98c 100644
--- a/tests/OpcodeT.cpp
+++ b/tests/OpcodeT.cpp
@@ -134,23 +134,43 @@ TEST_CASE("[Opcode] Note values")
     noteValue = sfz::readNoteValue("c#4");
     REQUIRE(noteValue);
     REQUIRE(*noteValue == 61);
+    noteValue = sfz::readNoteValue(u8"c♯4");
+    REQUIRE(noteValue);
+    REQUIRE(*noteValue == 61);
     noteValue = sfz::readNoteValue("C#4");
     REQUIRE(noteValue);
     REQUIRE(*noteValue == 61);
+    noteValue = sfz::readNoteValue(u8"C♯4");
+    REQUIRE(noteValue);
+    REQUIRE(*noteValue == 61);
     noteValue = sfz::readNoteValue("e#4");
     REQUIRE(!noteValue);
+    noteValue = sfz::readNoteValue(u8"e♯4");
+    REQUIRE(!noteValue);
     noteValue = sfz::readNoteValue("E#4");
     REQUIRE(!noteValue);
+    noteValue = sfz::readNoteValue(u8"E♯4");
+    REQUIRE(!noteValue);
     noteValue = sfz::readNoteValue("db4");
     REQUIRE(noteValue);
     REQUIRE(*noteValue == 61);
+    noteValue = sfz::readNoteValue(u8"d♭4");
+    REQUIRE(noteValue);
+    REQUIRE(*noteValue == 61);
     noteValue = sfz::readNoteValue("Db4");
     REQUIRE(noteValue);
     REQUIRE(*noteValue == 61);
+    noteValue = sfz::readNoteValue(u8"D♭4");
+    REQUIRE(noteValue);
+    REQUIRE(*noteValue == 61);
     noteValue = sfz::readNoteValue("fb4");
     REQUIRE(!noteValue);
+    noteValue = sfz::readNoteValue(u8"f♭4");
+    REQUIRE(!noteValue);
     noteValue = sfz::readNoteValue("Fb4");
     REQUIRE(!noteValue);
+    noteValue = sfz::readNoteValue(u8"F♭4");
+    REQUIRE(!noteValue);
 }
 
 TEST_CASE("[Opcode] Categories")