diff --git a/src/log.py b/src/log.py
index 806d95eda..7d3a63d4c 100644
--- a/src/log.py
+++ b/src/log.py
@@ -198,8 +198,17 @@ except EnvironmentError as e:
           'error was: %s' % (messagesLogFilename, utils.gen.exnToString(e)))
 
 # These are public.
-formatter = Formatter('NEVER SEEN; IF YOU SEE THIS, FILE A BUG!')
-pluginFormatter = PluginFormatter('NEVER SEEN; IF YOU SEE THIS, FILE A BUG!')
+if sys.version_info >= (3, 8):
+    formatter = Formatter(
+            'NEVER SEEN; IF YOU SEE THIS, FILE A BUG!', validate=False)
+    pluginFormatter = PluginFormatter(
+            'NEVER SEEN; IF YOU SEE THIS, FILE A BUG!', validate=False)
+
+else:
+    formatter = Formatter(
+            'NEVER SEEN; IF YOU SEE THIS, FILE A BUG!')
+    pluginFormatter = PluginFormatter(
+            'NEVER SEEN; IF YOU SEE THIS, FILE A BUG!')
 
 # These are not.
 logging.setLoggerClass(Logger)
@@ -409,7 +418,12 @@ _handler.setLevel(conf.supybot.log.level())
 _logger.addHandler(_handler)
 _logger.setLevel(-1)
 
-_stdoutFormatter = ColorizedFormatter('IF YOU SEE THIS, FILE A BUG!')
+if sys.version_info >= (3, 8):
+    _stdoutFormatter = ColorizedFormatter(
+            'IF YOU SEE THIS, FILE A BUG!', validate=False)
+else:
+    _stdoutFormatter = ColorizedFormatter(
+            'IF YOU SEE THIS, FILE A BUG!')
 _stdoutHandler.setFormatter(_stdoutFormatter)
 _stdoutHandler.setLevel(conf.supybot.log.stdout.level())
 if not conf.daemonized:
diff --git a/src/utils/gen.py b/src/utils/gen.py
index 2461336b9..81d7ec87e 100644
--- a/src/utils/gen.py
+++ b/src/utils/gen.py
@@ -196,6 +196,9 @@ def safeEval(s, namespace=None):
         elif sys.version_info[0:2] >= (3, 4) and \
                 node.__class__ is ast.NameConstant:
             return True
+        elif sys.version_info[0:2] >= (3, 8) and \
+                node.__class__ is ast.Constant:
+            return True
         else:
             return False
     if checkNode(node):