diff --git a/scripts/download.py b/scripts/download.py
index 589123c..afa1ef4 100755
--- a/scripts/download.py
+++ b/scripts/download.py
@@ -98,14 +98,15 @@ def download_url(url: str, out_dir: Path) -> dict:
     info: dict = {}
     if info_path.exists():
         try:
-            raw = json.loads(info_path.read_text())
+            raw = json.loads(info_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
             info = {
                 "title": raw.get("title"),
                 "uploader": raw.get("uploader") or raw.get("channel"),
                 "duration": raw.get("duration"),
                 "url": raw.get("webpage_url") or url,
             }
-        except Exception:
+        except Exception as exc:
+            print(f"[watch] info.json parse failed: {exc}", file=sys.stderr)
             info = {"url": url}
 
     return {
diff --git a/scripts/setup.py b/scripts/setup.py
index 308f6b3..b82d4c1 100755
--- a/scripts/setup.py
+++ b/scripts/setup.py
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ def _read_env_key(name: str) -> str | None:
         return None
     _check_file_permissions(CONFIG_FILE)
     try:
-        for line in CONFIG_FILE.read_text().splitlines():
+        for line in CONFIG_FILE.read_text(encoding="utf-8").splitlines():
             line = line.strip()
             if not line or line.startswith("#") or "=" not in line:
                 continue
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ def _scaffold_env() -> bool:
     if CONFIG_FILE.exists():
         return False
     CONFIG_DIR.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
-    CONFIG_FILE.write_text(ENV_TEMPLATE)
+    CONFIG_FILE.write_text(ENV_TEMPLATE, encoding="utf-8")
     try:
         CONFIG_FILE.chmod(0o600)
     except OSError:
@@ -130,15 +130,15 @@ def _write_setup_complete() -> None:
     CONFIG_DIR.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
     existing = ""
     if CONFIG_FILE.exists():
-        existing = CONFIG_FILE.read_text()
+        existing = CONFIG_FILE.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
         for line in existing.splitlines():
             if line.strip().startswith("SETUP_COMPLETE="):
                 return
         if existing and not existing.endswith("\n"):
             existing += "\n"
-        CONFIG_FILE.write_text(existing + "SETUP_COMPLETE=true\n")
+        CONFIG_FILE.write_text(existing + "SETUP_COMPLETE=true\n", encoding="utf-8")
     else:
-        CONFIG_FILE.write_text(ENV_TEMPLATE + "\nSETUP_COMPLETE=true\n")
+        CONFIG_FILE.write_text(ENV_TEMPLATE + "\nSETUP_COMPLETE=true\n", encoding="utf-8")
     try:
         CONFIG_FILE.chmod(0o600)
     except OSError:
diff --git a/scripts/whisper.py b/scripts/whisper.py
index 318b449..bbdcc8f 100755
--- a/scripts/whisper.py
+++ b/scripts/whisper.py
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ def load_api_key(preferred: str | None = None) -> tuple[str, str] | tuple[None,
         if not path.exists():
             return None
         try:
-            for line in path.read_text().splitlines():
+            for line in path.read_text(encoding="utf-8").splitlines():
                 line = line.strip()
                 if not line or line.startswith("#") or "=" not in line:
                     continue