diff --git a/resources/lib/kodimonitor.py b/resources/lib/kodimonitor.py
index a20eb6c0..15c0331d 100644
--- a/resources/lib/kodimonitor.py
+++ b/resources/lib/kodimonitor.py
@@ -472,8 +472,8 @@ class SpecialMonitor(Thread):
     def run(self):
         LOG.info("----====# Starting Special Monitor #====----")
         # "Start from beginning", "Play from beginning"
-        strings = (utils.try_encode(xbmc.getLocalizedString(12021)),
-                   utils.try_encode(xbmc.getLocalizedString(12023)))
+        strings = (utils.try_encode(utils.lang(12021)),
+                   utils.try_encode(utils.lang(12023)))
         while not self.stopped():
             if xbmc.getCondVisibility('Window.IsVisible(DialogContextMenu.xml)'):
                 if xbmc.getInfoLabel('Control.GetLabel(1002)') in strings:
diff --git a/resources/lib/utils.py b/resources/lib/utils.py
index 3bb67ad5..0194605e 100644
--- a/resources/lib/utils.py
+++ b/resources/lib/utils.py
@@ -115,9 +115,12 @@ def settings(setting, value=None):
 
 def lang(stringid):
     """
-    Central string retrieval from strings.po
+    Central string retrieval from strings.po. If not found within PKC,
+    standard XBMC/Kodi strings are retrieved.
+    Will return unicode
     """
-    return ADDON.getLocalizedString(stringid)
+    return (ADDON.getLocalizedString(stringid) or
+            xbmc.getLocalizedString(stringid))
 
 
 def dialog(typus, *args, **kwargs):
diff --git a/resources/lib/videonodes.py b/resources/lib/videonodes.py
index ede2abd0..00b620be 100644
--- a/resources/lib/videonodes.py
+++ b/resources/lib/videonodes.py
@@ -226,8 +226,6 @@ class VideoNodes(object):
             stringid = nodes[node]
             if node != "1":
                 label = utils.lang(stringid)
-                if not label:
-                    label = xbmc.getLocalizedString(stringid)
             else:
                 label = stringid