diff --git a/scripts/matam_assembly.py b/scripts/matam_assembly.py
index 293f395..0f2cf68 100755
--- a/scripts/matam_assembly.py
+++ b/scripts/matam_assembly.py
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ def update_logger_settings(logger_filepath, verbose, debug):
     update logging level and logging format accordinlgy to verbose/debug flag.
     add a file logger for root/runner logger.
     """
-    file_handler = logging.FileHandler(filename=logger_filepath)
+    file_handler = logging.FileHandler(filename=logger_filepath, encoding='utf8')
     file_handler.formatter = logging.Formatter('%(levelname)s - %(message)s')
     logger.addHandler(file_handler)
     if debug:
diff --git a/scripts/runner.py b/scripts/runner.py
index 4b1508b..f99e1c3 100755
--- a/scripts/runner.py
+++ b/scripts/runner.py
@@ -34,7 +34,9 @@ def logged_call(command, verbose=False):
     with subprocess.Popen(command, stdout=stdout, stderr=stderr, shell=True, bufsize=0) as process:
         if verbose:
             while process.poll() is None:
-                logger.info(os.read(process.stdout.fileno(), 1024).decode("utf-8", "ignore"))
+                message = os.read(process.stdout.fileno(), 1024).decode()
+                logger.info(message)
+
 
     # rehabilitate previous handler
     for handler in logger.handlers: