diff --git a/scripts/verify_log_statements.py b/scripts/verify_log_statements.py
index 9a9cd1b4..064df73b 100755
--- a/scripts/verify_log_statements.py
+++ b/scripts/verify_log_statements.py
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ def check_file(f):
   try:
     errors_found = []
 
-    file_content = codecs.open(f, "r", "utf-8").read()
+    file_content = codecs.open(f, "r", "utf-8", errors='ignore').read()
 
     for log in log_statement_re.finditer(file_content):
       quoted = log.group(2)
diff --git a/scripts/verify_value_string_arrays_are_terminated.py b/scripts/verify_value_string_arrays_are_terminated.py
index 9f0ad823..f6dc5451 100755
--- a/scripts/verify_value_string_arrays_are_terminated.py
+++ b/scripts/verify_value_string_arrays_are_terminated.py
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ def check_file(f):
   global errors_found
   if not (f.endswith('.h') or f.endswith('.c') or f.endswith('.cpp')):
     return
-  arrays = value_string_array_re.findall(codecs.open(f, "r", "utf-8").read())
+  arrays = value_string_array_re.findall(codecs.open(f, "r", "utf-8", errors='ignore').read())
   for array_def, name in arrays:
     if not terminator_re.search(array_def):
       print('ERROR: file contains unterminated value_string %r: %r'