diff --git a/gramps/gen/recentfiles.py b/gramps/gen/recentfiles.py
index d09549873..a4ba4c03f 100644
--- a/gramps/gen/recentfiles.py
+++ b/gramps/gen/recentfiles.py
@@ -196,8 +196,8 @@ class RecentFiles(object):
             if index > MAX_GRAMPS_ITEMS:
                 break
             xml_file.write('  <RecentItem>\n')
-            xml_file.write('    <Path>%s</Path>\n' % item.get_path())
-            xml_file.write('    <Name>%s</Name>\n' % item.get_name())
+            xml_file.write('    <Path><![CDATA[%s]]></Path>\n' % item.get_path())
+            xml_file.write('    <Name><![CDATA[%s]]></Name>\n' % item.get_name())
             xml_file.write('    <Timestamp>%d</Timestamp>\n' % item.get_time())
             xml_file.write('  </RecentItem>\n')
         xml_file.write('</RecentFiles>\n')
diff --git a/gramps/gui/displaystate.py b/gramps/gui/displaystate.py
index 462b3c256..0a100d218 100644
--- a/gramps/gui/displaystate.py
+++ b/gramps/gui/displaystate.py
@@ -290,17 +290,18 @@ class RecentDocsMenu(object):
 
         for item in rfiles:
             try:
-                title = item.get_name().replace('_', '__')
+                title = item.get_name()
                 filename = os.path.basename(item.get_path())
                 action_id = "RecentMenu%d" % count
                 buf.write('<menuitem action="%s"/>' % action_id)
                 actions.append((action_id, None, title, None, None, 
                                 make_callback(item, self.load)))
-                mitem = Gtk.MenuItem(label=title)
+                mitem = Gtk.MenuItem(label=title, use_underline=False)
                 mitem.connect('activate', make_callback(item, self.load))
                 mitem.show()
                 new_menu.append(mitem)
             except RuntimeError:
+                _LOG.info("Ignoring the RecentItem %s (%s)" % (title, filename))
                 pass    # ignore no longer existing files
             
             count += 1