diff --git a/main.py b/main.py
index 2728751..8437e9f 100644
--- a/main.py
+++ b/main.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ V 0.2.0
 
 import curses
 from pubsub import pub
+import os
 
 from utilities.arg_parser import setup_parser
 from utilities.interfaces import initialize_interface
@@ -17,6 +18,11 @@ from utilities.utils import get_channels
 from database import init_nodedb, load_messages_from_db
 import globals
 
+# Set environment variables for ncurses compatibility
+os.environ["NCURSES_NO_UTF8_ACS"] = "1"
+os.environ["TERM"] = "screen"
+os.environ["LANG"] = "C.UTF-8"
+
 def main(stdscr):
     draw_splash(stdscr)
     parser = setup_parser()
diff --git a/ui/curses_ui.py b/ui/curses_ui.py
index 6d19e1b..1bcff4a 100644
--- a/ui/curses_ui.py
+++ b/ui/curses_ui.py
@@ -357,4 +357,5 @@ def main_ui(stdscr):
                 update_messages_window()
         else:
             # Append typed character to input text
-            input_text += chr(char)
\ No newline at end of file
+            input_text += chr(char)
+            
\ No newline at end of file