diff --git a/entry_darwin.m b/entry_darwin.m
index 102168be..f2b208bb 100644
--- a/entry_darwin.m
+++ b/entry_darwin.m
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ void finishNewTextField(NSTextField *t, BOOL isEntry)
 	[t setBezelStyle:NSTextFieldSquareBezel];
 	[t setBezeled:isEntry];
 
-	// TODO autocorrect comment
+	// we don't need to worry about substitutions/autocorrect here; see window_darwin.m for details
 
 	[[t cell] setLineBreakMode:NSLineBreakByClipping];
 	[[t cell] setScrollable:YES];
diff --git a/text_darwin.m b/text_darwin.m
index 4f363561..f0d3dab6 100644
--- a/text_darwin.m
+++ b/text_darwin.m
@@ -12,3 +12,8 @@ char *uiDarwinNSStringToText(NSString *s)
 	}
 	return out;
 }
+
+void uiFreeText(char *s)
+{
+	free(s);
+}
diff --git a/uipriv_darwin.h b/uipriv_darwin.h
index fc6e3cdf..057af1dc 100644
--- a/uipriv_darwin.h
+++ b/uipriv_darwin.h
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 
 // util_darwin.m
 extern void setStandardControlFont(NSControl *);
+extern void disableAutocorrect(NSTextView *);
 
 // container_darwin.m
 @interface uiContainer : NSView
diff --git a/util_darwin.m b/util_darwin.m
index 8fbf391b..906a0ead 100644
--- a/util_darwin.m
+++ b/util_darwin.m
@@ -7,7 +7,14 @@ void setStandardControlFont(NSControl *control)
 	[control setFont:[NSFont systemFontOfSize:[NSFont systemFontSizeForControlSize:NSRegularControlSize]]];
 }
 
-void uiFreeText(char *s)
+void disableAutocorrect(NSTextView *tv)
 {
-	free(s);
+	[tv setEnabledTextCheckingTypes:0];
+	[tv setAutomaticDashSubstitutionEnabled:NO];
+	// don't worry about automatic data detection; it won't change stringValue (thanks pretty_function in irc.freenode.net/#macdev)
+	[tv setAutomaticSpellingCorrectionEnabled:NO];
+	[tv setAutomaticTextReplacementEnabled:NO];
+	[tv setAutomaticQuoteSubstitutionEnabled:NO];
+	[tv setAutomaticLinkDetectionEnabled:NO];
+	[tv setSmartInsertDeleteEnabled:NO];
 }
diff --git a/window_darwin.m b/window_darwin.m
index 690c73ac..9b6949f6 100644
--- a/window_darwin.m
+++ b/window_darwin.m
@@ -51,7 +51,14 @@ uiWindow *uiNewWindow(char *title, int width, int height)
 		backing:NSBackingStoreBuffered
 		defer:YES];
 	[d.w setTitle:toNSString(title)];
-	// TODO substitutions
+
+	// we do not want substitutions
+	// text fields, labels, etc. take their smart quotes and other autocorrect settings from their parent window, which provides a shared "field editor"
+	// so we have to turn them off here
+	// thanks akempgen in irc.freenode.net/#macdev
+	// for some reason, this selector returns NSText but is documented to return NSTextView...
+	// NOTE: if you disagree with me about disabling substitutions, start a github issue with why and I'll be happy to consider it
+	disableAutocorrect((NSTextView *) [d.w fieldEditor:YES forObject:nil]);
 
 	// this is what will destroy the window on close
 	[d.w setReleasedWhenClosed:YES];