diff --git a/colout/colout.py b/colout/colout.py
index fdc523d..6548caa 100755
--- a/colout/colout.py
+++ b/colout/colout.py
@@ -567,6 +567,8 @@ def map_write( stream_in, stream_out, function, *args ):
     while True:
         try:
             item = stream_in.readline()
+        except UnicodeDecodeError:
+            continue
         except KeyboardInterrupt:
             break
         if not item: