3 files changed, 28 insertions, 5 deletions
diff --git a/packages/meshbay-node/src/meshbay_node/daemon.py b/packages/meshbay-node/src/meshbay_node/daemon.py
index 72f7fa4..6bc3bef 100644
--- a/packages/meshbay-node/src/meshbay_node/daemon.py
+++ b/packages/meshbay-node/src/meshbay_node/daemon.py
@@ -1634,7 +1634,8 @@ def _systemctl_user(verb: str, unit: str, *, not_running_hint: str,
 def main() -> None:
     import argparse
 
-    from meshbay_node.platform import use_compatible_event_loop
+    from meshbay_node.platform import force_utf8_stdio, use_compatible_event_loop
+    force_utf8_stdio()
     use_compatible_event_loop()
 
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="MeshBay Node daemon")
@@ -1738,7 +1739,9 @@ def main() -> None:
                 "ui_port   = 18000",
                 "",
                 "[keystore]",
-                f'unlock_file = "{unlock_file}"',
+                # Forward slashes: a Windows path in a TOML basic string is a
+                # parse error (`\U`, `\a`, ... are escape sequences).
+                f'unlock_file = "{unlock_file.as_posix()}"',
                 "",
             ]
             cfg_path.write_text("\n".join(toml_lines) + "\n", encoding="utf-8", newline="\n")
diff --git a/packages/meshbay-node/src/meshbay_node/ops.py b/packages/meshbay-node/src/meshbay_node/ops.py
index 40de755..4c20c2a 100644
--- a/packages/meshbay-node/src/meshbay_node/ops.py
+++ b/packages/meshbay-node/src/meshbay_node/ops.py
@@ -447,9 +447,11 @@ async def attach_group(state: dict, name: str, shared_dir: str,
                 upload_path.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
             except OSError as e:
                 raise OpError(f"Cannot create {upload_path}: {e}") from e
-            block += f'upload_dir  = "{upload_path}"\n'
+            block += f'upload_dir  = "{upload_path.as_posix()}"\n'
     block += (f'\n  [[groups.roots]]\n'
-              f'  path   = "{path}"\n')
+              # Forward slashes: a Windows path in a TOML basic string is a
+              # parse error (`\U`, `\a`, ... are escapes). pathlib reads `/`.
+              f'  path   = "{path.as_posix()}"\n')
     if not separate_upload:
         block += f'  upload = true\n'
     try:
@@ -667,7 +669,7 @@ async def add_root(state: dict, group_id: str, path: str, *,
         raise OpError(f"Cannot create {added.path}: {e}") from e
 
     conf_path = Path(state.get("config_path") or DEFAULT_CONFIG_PATH)
-    root_block = f'  [[groups.roots]]\n  path   = "{added.path}"'
+    root_block = f'  [[groups.roots]]\n  path   = "{added.path.as_posix()}"'
     if name:
         root_block += f'\n  name   = "{added.name}"'
     if kind != "generic":
diff --git a/packages/meshbay-node/src/meshbay_node/platform.py b/packages/meshbay-node/src/meshbay_node/platform.py
index 4bd8e35..80aa6ae 100644
--- a/packages/meshbay-node/src/meshbay_node/platform.py
+++ b/packages/meshbay-node/src/meshbay_node/platform.py
@@ -6,6 +6,24 @@ import shutil
 import sys
 from pathlib import Path
 
+# ── Console ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+
+def force_utf8_stdio() -> None:
+    """
+    Make stdout/stderr UTF-8. A Windows console is cp1252 by default, so any
+    ``print()`` carrying a character outside it — the ``->`` arrows and em
+    dashes the CLI help and messages are full of — raises UnicodeEncodeError
+    and takes the command down with it. No effect where the streams are
+    already UTF-8 or cannot be reconfigured.
+    """
+    for stream in (sys.stdout, sys.stderr):
+        try:
+            stream.reconfigure(encoding="utf-8")
+        except (AttributeError, ValueError, OSError):
+            pass
+
+
 # ── Event loop ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────