diff --git a/python/tmc_parser.py b/python/tmc_parser.py
index ce611e8..ca532cc 100644
--- a/python/tmc_parser.py
+++ b/python/tmc_parser.py
@@ -290,9 +290,15 @@ class tmc_parser_Widget(QtGui.QWidget):
         print("filterChanged:",end="")
         self.logMutex.acquire(1)
         print("got mutex,",end="")
-        
-        ef=unicode(self.event_filter.text().toUtf8(), encoding="UTF-8").lower()
-        lf=unicode(self.location_filter.text().toUtf8(), encoding="UTF-8").lower()
+        ef=""
+        lf=""
+        try:
+          ef=unicode(self.event_filter.text().toUtf8(), encoding="UTF-8").lower()
+          lf=unicode(self.location_filter.text().toUtf8(), encoding="UTF-8").lower()
+        except Exception as e:
+          print(e)
+          print("error getting filter strings")
+          code.interact(local=locals())
         print("read filters,",end="")
         self.logOutput.clear()
         print("cleared,",end="")