diff --git a/io_scene_psk_psa/psa/builder.py b/io_scene_psk_psa/psa/builder.py
index 2a23ee9..c8b831e 100644
--- a/io_scene_psk_psa/psa/builder.py
+++ b/io_scene_psk_psa/psa/builder.py
@@ -91,7 +91,11 @@ def build_psa(context: bpy.types.Context, options: PsaBuildOptions) -> Psa:
     # Build list of PSA bones.
     for bone in bones:
         psa_bone = Psa.Bone()
-        psa_bone.name = bytes(bone.name, encoding='windows-1252')
+
+        try:
+            psa_bone.name = bytes(bone.name, encoding='windows-1252')
+        except UnicodeEncodeError:
+            raise RuntimeError(f'Bone name "{bone.name}" contains characters that cannot be encoded in the Windows-1252 codepage')
 
         try:
             parent_index = bones.index(bone.parent)
@@ -165,7 +169,10 @@ def build_psa(context: bpy.types.Context, options: PsaBuildOptions) -> Psa:
             frame_step = -frame_step
 
         psa_sequence = Psa.Sequence()
-        psa_sequence.name = bytes(export_sequence.name, encoding='windows-1252')
+        try:
+            psa_sequence.name = bytes(export_sequence.name, encoding='windows-1252')
+        except UnicodeEncodeError:
+            raise RuntimeError(f'Sequence name "{export_sequence.name}" contains characters that cannot be encoded in the Windows-1252 codepage')
         psa_sequence.frame_count = frame_count
         psa_sequence.frame_start_index = frame_start_index
         psa_sequence.fps = frame_count / sequence_duration
diff --git a/io_scene_psk_psa/psk/builder.py b/io_scene_psk_psa/psk/builder.py
index 99a3784..7a22124 100644
--- a/io_scene_psk_psa/psk/builder.py
+++ b/io_scene_psk_psa/psk/builder.py
@@ -88,7 +88,11 @@ def build_psk(context, options: PskBuildOptions) -> Psk:
 
         for bone in bones:
             psk_bone = Psk.Bone()
-            psk_bone.name = bytes(bone.name, encoding='windows-1252')
+            try:
+                psk_bone.name = bytes(bone.name, encoding='windows-1252')
+            except UnicodeEncodeError:
+                raise RuntimeError(
+                    f'Bone name "{bone.name}" contains characters that cannot be encoded in the Windows-1252 codepage')
             psk_bone.flags = 0
             psk_bone.children_count = 0
 
@@ -129,7 +133,10 @@ def build_psk(context, options: PskBuildOptions) -> Psk:
 
     for material_name in material_names:
         psk_material = Psk.Material()
-        psk_material.name = bytes(material_name, encoding='windows-1252')
+        try:
+            psk_material.name = bytes(material_name, encoding='windows-1252')
+        except UnicodeEncodeError:
+            raise RuntimeError(f'Material name "{material_name}" contains characters that cannot be encoded in the Windows-1252 codepage')
         psk_material.texture_index = len(psk.materials)
         psk.materials.append(psk_material)