diff --git a/cython/setup.py b/cython/setup.py
index 643889b..abf68eb 100644
--- a/cython/setup.py
+++ b/cython/setup.py
@@ -11,8 +11,8 @@ extensions = Extension(
     include_dirs=["lib","3rdparty/pugixml"],
     language='c++',
     #extra_compile_args=['-std=c++17','-Wno-unused-variable'],
-    extra_compile_args=['-std=c++17'],
-    extra_link_args=['-std=c++17'],
+    extra_compile_args=['-std=c++17','/EHsc','/std:c++17'],
+    extra_link_args=['-std=c++17','/EHsc','/std:c++17'],
 )
 
 os.system("git tag > gittags.log")
diff --git a/lib/tdm_termite.cpp b/lib/tdm_termite.cpp
index 82266ae..2457e0f 100644
--- a/lib/tdm_termite.cpp
+++ b/lib/tdm_termite.cpp
@@ -917,7 +917,7 @@ void tdm_termite::check_filename_path(const char* filename)
 
   if ( !std::filesystem::is_directory(pt) )
   {
-    throw std::runtime_error(std::string("directory does not exist: ") + pt.c_str() );
+    throw std::runtime_error( std::string("directory does not exist: ") + pt.u8string() );
   }
 }