diff --git a/compiler/debug.py b/compiler/debug.py
index 191e1a06..9d6576fe 100644
--- a/compiler/debug.py
+++ b/compiler/debug.py
@@ -90,6 +90,7 @@ def log(str):
                 compile_log.write(line)
             log.setup_output = []
         compile_log.write(str + '\n')
+        compile_log.close()
     else:
         log.setup_output.append(str + "\n")
 
diff --git a/compiler/globals.py b/compiler/globals.py
index 54b7c197..be7f2ca7 100644
--- a/compiler/globals.py
+++ b/compiler/globals.py
@@ -23,7 +23,8 @@
 
 
 from openram import OPENRAM_HOME
-VERSION = open(OPENRAM_HOME + "/../VERSION").read().rstrip()
+with open(OPENRAM_HOME + "/../VERSION", "r", encoding="utf-8") as version_file:
+    VERSION = version_file.read().rstrip()
 NAME = "OpenRAM v{}".format(VERSION)
 USAGE = "sram_compiler.py [options] <config file>\nUse -h for help.\n"