diff --git a/lacre/core.py b/lacre/core.py
index 6d68f05..934876a 100644
--- a/lacre/core.py
+++ b/lacre/core.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ import copy
 import email
 import email.message
 import email.utils
-from email.policy import SMTP
+from email.policy import SMTPUTF8
 import GnuPG
 import os
 import smtplib
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ def _gpg_encrypt_copy(message, cmdline, to, encrypt_f):
 
 def _gpg_encrypt_to_bytes(message, cmdline, to, encrypt_f) -> bytes:
     msg_copy = _gpg_encrypt_copy(message, cmdline, to, encrypt_f)
-    return msg_copy.as_bytes(policy=SMTP)
+    return msg_copy.as_bytes(policy=SMTPUTF8)
 
 
 def _gpg_encrypt_to_str(message, cmdline, to, encrypt_f) -> str:
diff --git a/lacre/keyring.py b/lacre/keyring.py
index eb158ff..03c09ef 100644
--- a/lacre/keyring.py
+++ b/lacre/keyring.py
@@ -102,9 +102,14 @@ class KeyRing:
 
     async def _load(self):
         last_mod = self._read_mod_time()
+        LOG.debug(f'Keyring was last modified: {last_mod}')
         if self._is_modified(last_mod):
+            LOG.debug('Keyring has been modified')
             async with self._sema:
+                LOG.debug('About to re-load the keyring')
                 self.replace_keyring(self._load_keyring_from(self._path))
+        else:
+            LOG.debug('Keyring not modified recently, continuing')
 
         self._last_mod = self._read_mod_time()
 
diff --git a/lacre/mailop.py b/lacre/mailop.py
index 3a3be51..7eff347 100644
--- a/lacre/mailop.py
+++ b/lacre/mailop.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ There are 3 operations available:
 import logging
 import lacre.core as core
 from email.message import Message
-from email.policy import SMTP
+from email.policy import SMTP, SMTPUTF8
 
 
 LOG = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ class KeepIntact(MailOperation):
 
     def perform(self, message: Message) -> bytes:
         """Return MESSAGE unmodified."""
-        return message.as_bytes(policy=SMTP)
+        return message.as_bytes(policy=SMTPUTF8)
 
     def __repr__(self):
         """Return representation with just method and email."""