diff --git a/python/taichi/core/util.py b/python/taichi/core/util.py
index 37b285f76e734..1361a87435ac1 100644
--- a/python/taichi/core/util.py
+++ b/python/taichi/core/util.py
@@ -49,12 +49,19 @@ def import_ti_core(tmp_dir=None):
         core.set_tmp_dir(locale_encode(tmp_dir))
 
 
-def locale_encode(s):
+def locale_encode(path):
     try:
         import locale
-        return s.encode(locale.getdefaultlocale()[1])
-    except TypeError:
-        return s.encode('utf8')
+        return path.encode(locale.getdefaultlocale()[1])
+    except:
+        try:
+            import sys
+            return path.encode(sys.getfilesystemencoding())
+        except:
+            try:
+                return path.encode()
+            except:
+                return path
 
 
 def is_ci():
@@ -159,8 +166,8 @@ def get_unique_task_id():
     if get_os_name() != 'win':
         dll = ctypes.CDLL(get_core_shared_object(), mode=ctypes.RTLD_LOCAL)
         # The C backend needs a temporary directory for the generated .c and compiled .so files:
-        ti_core.set_tmp_dir(prepare_sandbox(
-        ))  # TODO: always allocate a tmp_dir for all situations
+        ti_core.set_tmp_dir(locale_encode(prepare_sandbox(
+        )))  # TODO: always allocate a tmp_dir for all situations
 
     ti_core.set_python_package_dir(package_root())
     os.makedirs(ti_core.get_repo_dir(), exist_ok=True)
@@ -200,6 +207,10 @@ def get_unique_task_id():
             from colorama import Fore, Back, Style
             print_red_bold("Taichi core import failed: ", end='')
             print(e)
+            print(
+                Fore.YELLOW + "check this page for possible solutions:\n"
+                "https://taichi.readthedocs.io/en/stable/install.html#troubleshooting"
+                + Fore.RESET)
             exit(-1)
         os.chdir(tmp_cwd)
 
diff --git a/taichi/python/export_lang.cpp b/taichi/python/export_lang.cpp
index 5a883ad56baa0..20deadcc5a7a7 100644
--- a/taichi/python/export_lang.cpp
+++ b/taichi/python/export_lang.cpp
@@ -574,8 +574,14 @@ void export_lang(py::module &m) {
 
   m.def("host_arch", host_arch);
 
-  m.def("set_lib_dir", [&](const std::string &dir) { compiled_lib_dir = dir; });
-  m.def("set_tmp_dir", [&](const std::string &dir) { runtime_tmp_dir = dir; });
+  m.def("set_lib_dir", [&](const std::string &dir) {
+    TI_INFO("set_lib_dir: [{}]", dir);
+    compiled_lib_dir = dir;
+  });
+  m.def("set_tmp_dir", [&](const std::string &dir) {
+    TI_INFO("set_tmp_dir: [{}]", dir);
+    runtime_tmp_dir = dir;
+  });
   m.def("get_runtime_dir", get_runtime_dir);
 
   m.def("get_commit_hash", get_commit_hash);