diff --git a/chatbug/file_append.py b/chatbug/file_append.py
index 15a808f..27b805e 100644
--- a/chatbug/file_append.py
+++ b/chatbug/file_append.py
@@ -10,10 +10,12 @@ def check_append_file(prompt: str) -> str:
                 filename = part[1:]
                 try:
                     if os.path.exists(filename):
-                        with open(filename, "r") as f:
+                        with open(filename, "r", encoding="utf-8") as f:
                             content.append("%s:'''\n%s'''" % (filename, f.read()))
                 except FileNotFoundError:
                     print(f"File '{filename}' not found.")
+                except Exception as e:
+                    print("exception encountered %s", e)
         content.append(prompt)
         return "\n".join(content)
     return prompt