diff --git a/404.php b/404.php
index ffc3b88..3d46156 100644
--- a/404.php
+++ b/404.php
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
           <h1><?php _e('File Not Found', 'roots'); ?></h1>
         </div>
         <div class="alert alert-block fade in">
-          <a class="close" data-dismiss="alert">×</a>
+          <a class="close" data-dismiss="alert">&times;</a>
           <p><?php _e('The page you are looking for might have been removed, had its name changed, or is temporarily unavailable.', 'roots'); ?></p>
         </div>
         <p><?php _e('Please try the following:', 'roots'); ?></p>
diff --git a/comments.php b/comments.php
index d581afc..e5a797f 100644
--- a/comments.php
+++ b/comments.php
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 
       <?php if ($comment->comment_approved == '0') { ?>
         <div class="alert alert-block fade in">
-          <a class="close" data-dismiss="alert">×</a>
+          <a class="close" data-dismiss="alert">&times;</a>
           <p><?php _e('Your comment is awaiting moderation.', 'roots'); ?></p>
         </div>
       <?php } ?>
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 <?php if (post_password_required()) { ?>
   <section id="comments">
     <div class="alert alert-block fade in">
-      <a class="close" data-dismiss="alert">×</a>
+      <a class="close" data-dismiss="alert">&times;</a>
       <p><?php _e('This post is password protected. Enter the password to view comments.', 'roots'); ?></p>
     </div>
   </section><!-- /#comments -->
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@
 
     <?php if (!comments_open() && !is_page() && post_type_supports(get_post_type(), 'comments')) { ?>
       <div class="alert alert-block fade in">
-        <a class="close" data-dismiss="alert">×</a>
+        <a class="close" data-dismiss="alert">&times;</a>
         <p><?php _e('Comments are closed.', 'roots'); ?></p>
       </div>
     <?php } ?>
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@
 <?php if (!have_comments() && !comments_open() && !is_page() && post_type_supports(get_post_type(), 'comments')) { ?>
   <section id="comments">
     <div class="alert alert-block fade in">
-      <a class="close" data-dismiss="alert">×</a>
+      <a class="close" data-dismiss="alert">&times;</a>
       <p><?php _e('Comments are closed.', 'roots'); ?></p>
     </div>
   </section><!-- /#comments -->
diff --git a/inc/roots-cleanup.php b/inc/roots-cleanup.php
index aa3dce7..6cc180b 100644
--- a/inc/roots-cleanup.php
+++ b/inc/roots-cleanup.php
@@ -627,7 +627,7 @@ if (class_exists('RGForms')) {
   // error message class
   function roots_gform_validation_message($message, $form) {
     $message = '<div class="alert alert-error fade in">';
-    $message .= '<a class="close" data-dismiss="alert">×</a>';
+    $message .= '<a class="close" data-dismiss="alert">&times;</a>';
     $message .= '<strong>There was a problem with your submission. Errors have been highlighted below.</strong>';
     $message .= '</div>';
     return $message;