diff --git a/log_shipper.py b/log_shipper.py
index d45f396..83ea61e 100755
--- a/log_shipper.py
+++ b/log_shipper.py
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ class LogFile(object):
         self.path = path
         self.tail = 0
         self.more_content = asyncio.Event()
-        self.fh = open(path)
+        self.fh = open(path, "rb")
         self.queue = queue
         self.namespace_name = namespace_name
         self.pod_name = pod_name
@@ -221,16 +221,23 @@ class LogFile(object):
             assert self.head < self.tail
             self.fh.seek(self.head)
             buf = self.fh.readline()
+
             try:
-                if len(buf) < 45:
+                reason = "unicode-encoding"
+                line = buf.decode("utf-8")
+                if len(line) < 45:
+                    reason = "line-short"
                     raise ValueError()
-                if not buf[-1] == "\n":
+                if not line[-1] == "\n":
+                    reason = "no-newline  %s" % repr((buf))
                     raise ValueError()
-                if not re.match("^(.+) (stdout|stderr)( (.))? (.*)$", buf[:-1]):
+                if not re.match("^(.+) (stdout|stderr)( (.))? (.*)$", line[:-1]):
+                    reason = "no-regex-match"
                     raise ValueError()
-                event_created = datetime.strptime(buf[:23], "%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S.%f")
+                reason = "invalid-timestamp"
+                event_created = datetime.strptime(line[:23], "%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S.%f")
             except ValueError:
-                print("Failed to parse file %s at offset %d" % (self.path, self.head))
+                print("Failed to parse file %s at offset %d, reason: %s" % (self.path, self.head, reason))
                 break
 
             histogram_line_size.observe(len(buf))
@@ -239,9 +246,9 @@ class LogFile(object):
 
             if record_size < args.max_record_size:
                 # TODO: Support Docker runtime on EKS
-                message += buf[45:-1]
+                message += line[45:-1]
 
-            state = buf[43]
+            state = line[43]
             if state == "P":
                 # This is partial message
                 continue
@@ -257,7 +264,7 @@ class LogFile(object):
                 # TODO: Log portion of the message
                 continue
 
-            stream = buf[36:42].strip()
+            stream = line[36:42].strip()
             if message.startswith("{\""):
                 # TODO: Follow Filebeat hints
                 try: