diff --git a/main.py b/main.py
index b4eb646..e1bf87e 100644
--- a/main.py
+++ b/main.py
@@ -59,12 +59,19 @@ def main():
                 if events:
                     for event in events:
                         logging.debug(f"Event: {event!r}")
+                        if event.mask & flags.IGNORED:
+                            logging.info(f"Watch for wd {event.wd} was removed (directory deleted?).")
+                            if event.wd in wd_to_path:
+                                logging.info(f"Removing path '{wd_to_path[event.wd]}' from watch mapping.")
+                                del wd_to_path[event.wd]
+                            continue
+
                         if event.mask & flags.ISDIR and (event.mask & flags.CREATE or event.mask & flags.MOVED_TO):
                             parent_dir_path = wd_to_path.get(event.wd)
                             if not parent_dir_path:
                                 logging.warning(f"Could not find path for watch descriptor {event.wd}")
                                 continue
-                            new_dir_path = os.path.join(parent_dir_path, event.name.decode('utf-8'))
+                            new_dir_path = os.path.join(parent_dir_path, event.name)
                             logging.info(f"New directory {new_dir_path} detected, adding watches.")
                             add_watch_recursive(inotify, new_dir_path, watch_flags, wd_to_path)
                             continue