diff --git a/code/object/waypoint.cpp b/code/object/waypoint.cpp
index 955d29deb2c..ba6df05573c 100644
--- a/code/object/waypoint.cpp
+++ b/code/object/waypoint.cpp
@@ -399,7 +399,7 @@ void waypoint_stuff_name(char *dest, const char *waypoint_list_name, int waypoin
 
 	if (waypoint_num < 1)
 	{
-		Assertion(LOCATION, "A waypoint number must be at least 1!");
+		Error(LOCATION, "A waypoint number must be at least 1!");
 		*dest = 0;
 		return;
 	}
@@ -410,8 +410,9 @@ void waypoint_stuff_name(char *dest, const char *waypoint_list_name, int waypoin
 		return;
 	}
 
-	strncpy(dest, waypoint_list_name, name_max_len);
-	sprintf(dest + name_max_len, ":%d", waypoint_num);
+	auto name_len = std::min(strlen(waypoint_list_name), name_max_len);
+	strncpy(dest, waypoint_list_name, name_len);
+	sprintf(dest + name_len, ":%d", waypoint_num);
 }
 
 void waypoint_stuff_name(SCP_string &dest, const char *waypoint_list_name, int waypoint_num)
@@ -420,7 +421,7 @@ void waypoint_stuff_name(SCP_string &dest, const char *waypoint_list_name, int w
 
 	if (waypoint_num < 1)
 	{
-		Assertion(LOCATION, "A waypoint number must be at least 1!");
+		Error(LOCATION, "A waypoint number must be at least 1!");
 		dest = "";
 		return;
 	}
diff --git a/fred2/campaigntreewnd.cpp b/fred2/campaigntreewnd.cpp
index 527fcf37e50..680fad3928d 100644
--- a/fred2/campaigntreewnd.cpp
+++ b/fred2/campaigntreewnd.cpp
@@ -480,20 +480,25 @@ int campaign_tree_wnd::error(const char *msg, ...)
 
 int campaign_tree_wnd::internal_error(const char *msg, ...)
 {
-	SCP_string buf, buf2;
+	SCP_string buf;
 	va_list args;
 
-	g_err++;
 	va_start(args, msg);
 	vsprintf(buf, msg, args);
 	va_end(args);
 
-	sprintf(buf2, "%s\n\nThis is an internal error.  Please let Hoffoss\n"
-		"know about this so he can fix it.  Click cancel to debug.", buf.c_str());
+	g_err++;
 
-	nprintf(("Error", buf.c_str()));
-	if (MessageBox(buf2.c_str(), "Internal Error", MB_OKCANCEL | MB_ICONEXCLAMATION) == IDCANCEL)
+#ifndef NDEBUG
+	nprintf(("Internal Error", buf.c_str()));
+
+	buf += "\n\nThis is an internal error.  Please notify a coder about this.  Click cancel to debug.";
+
+	if (MessageBox(buf.c_str(), "Internal Error", MB_OKCANCEL | MB_ICONEXCLAMATION) == IDCANCEL)
 		Int3();  // drop to debugger so the problem can be analyzed.
+#else
+	MessageBox(buf.c_str(), "Error", MB_OK | MB_ICONEXCLAMATION);
+#endif
 
 	return -1;
 }
diff --git a/fred2/fredview.cpp b/fred2/fredview.cpp
index fba2463281b..b610ed08175 100644
--- a/fred2/fredview.cpp
+++ b/fred2/fredview.cpp
@@ -3400,27 +3400,22 @@ int CFREDView::error(const char *msg, ...)
 
 int CFREDView::internal_error(const char *msg, ...)
 {
-	char buf[2048];
+	SCP_string buf;
 	va_list args;
 
 	va_start(args, msg);
-	vsnprintf(buf, sizeof(buf)-1, msg, args);
+	vsprintf(buf, msg, args);
 	va_end(args);
-	buf[sizeof(buf)-1] = '\0';
 
 	g_err = 1;
 
 #ifndef NDEBUG
-	char buf2[2048];
+	buf += "\n\nThis is an internal error.  Please notify a coder about this.  Click cancel to debug.";
 
-	sprintf(buf2, "%s\n\nThis is an internal error.  Please let Jason\n"
-		"know about this so he can fix it.  Click cancel to debug.", buf);
-
-	if (MessageBox(buf2, "Internal Error", MB_OKCANCEL | MB_ICONEXCLAMATION) == IDCANCEL)
+	if (MessageBox(buf.c_str(), "Internal Error", MB_OKCANCEL | MB_ICONEXCLAMATION) == IDCANCEL)
 		Int3();  // drop to debugger so the problem can be analyzed.
-
 #else
-	MessageBox(buf, "Error", MB_OK | MB_ICONEXCLAMATION);
+	MessageBox(buf.c_str(), "Error", MB_OK | MB_ICONEXCLAMATION);
 #endif
 
 	return -1;
diff --git a/qtfred/src/mission/Editor.cpp b/qtfred/src/mission/Editor.cpp
index 21bde4cabc8..93f77e1e852 100644
--- a/qtfred/src/mission/Editor.cpp
+++ b/qtfred/src/mission/Editor.cpp
@@ -2642,29 +2642,24 @@ int Editor::error(const char* msg, ...) {
 	return 1;
 }
 int Editor::internal_error(const char* msg, ...) {
-	char buf[2048];
+	SCP_string buf;
 	va_list args;
 
 	va_start(args, msg);
-	vsnprintf(buf, sizeof(buf) - 1, msg, args);
+	vsprintf(buf, msg, args);
 	va_end(args);
-	buf[sizeof(buf) - 1] = '\0';
 
 	g_err = 1;
 
 #ifndef NDEBUG
-	char buf2[2048];
-
-	sprintf_safe(buf2, "%s\n\nThis is an internal error.  Please let Jason\n"
-		"know about this so he can fix it.  Click cancel to debug.", buf);
+	buf += "\n\nThis is an internal error.  Please notify a coder about this.  Click cancel to debug.";
 
 	if (_lastActiveViewport->dialogProvider->showButtonDialog(DialogType::Error,
 															  "Internal Error",
-															  buf2,
+															  buf,
 															  { DialogButton::Ok, DialogButton::Cancel })
 		== DialogButton::Cancel)
 		Int3();  // drop to debugger so the problem can be analyzed.
-
 #else
 	_lastActiveViewport->dialogProvider->showButtonDialog(DialogType::Error, "Error", buf, { DialogButton::Ok });
 #endif