diff --git a/CHANGELOG.txt b/CHANGELOG.txt
index 9aab9a859..08ccd1e44 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.txt
+++ b/CHANGELOG.txt
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ Base Metals 3.1.0.119041
 - Use the new creative tabs and fluid types. Filled molten-metal buckets remain visible and searchable.
 - Update door models, recipes, loot, configuration screens and save conversion for the newer Minecraft APIs.
 - Save configuration-screen changes together so quick edits aren't lost.
+- Preserve translated characters when building on Windows.
 - Remove obsolete vanilla biome registry snapshots during upgrades, with a backup. Keep modded biome snapshots untouched.
 - Require the published OreSpawn 4.1.0.119041 release, keeping the same ore rules and copper defaults.
 - Keep unsupported optional-mod jars out of development launches. Their integration data is retained for future compatibility work.
diff --git a/gradle/release/artifacts.gradle b/gradle/release/artifacts.gradle
index 35c0e88aa..32aae58b7 100644
--- a/gradle/release/artifacts.gradle
+++ b/gradle/release/artifacts.gradle
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import org.apache.tools.ant.filters.FixCrLfFilter
 
 // Normalize archive text as well as the working tree, including generated Javadocs.
 tasks.withType(Jar).configureEach {
+    filteringCharset = 'UTF-8'
     filesMatching(['**/*.java', '**/*.json', '**/*.lang', '**/*.mcmeta', '**/*.md',
                    '**/*.txt', '**/*.cfg', '**/*.properties', '**/*.xml', '**/*.html',
                    '**/*.css', '**/*.js', '**/element-list', '**/package-list']) {
@@ -16,6 +17,7 @@ tasks.withType(Jar).configureEach {
 
 // Expand the release identity into Forge metadata and package public documentation.
 tasks.named('processResources', ProcessResources).configure {
+    filteringCharset = 'UTF-8'
     var replaceProperties = [
             minecraft_version: minecraft_version, minecraft_version_range: minecraft_version_range,
             forge_version: forge_version, forge_version_range: forge_version_range,
@@ -343,6 +345,20 @@ tasks.register('verifyReleaseArtifacts') {
             if (locales.size() != 18) {
                 throw new GradleException("Release jar must contain all 18 language files, found ${locales.size()}")
             }
+            locales.each { path ->
+                File sourceFile = sourceSets.main.resources.srcDirs
+                        .collect { new File(it, path) }.find { it.isFile() }
+                if (sourceFile == null) {
+                    throw new GradleException("No source language file for ${path}")
+                }
+                String source = sourceFile.getText('UTF-8')
+                        .replace('\r\n', '\n').replace('\r', '\n')
+                if (!source.endsWith('\n')) source += '\n'
+                String packaged = zip.getInputStream(zip.getEntry(path)).getText('UTF-8')
+                if (packaged != source) {
+                    throw new GradleException("Release jar changed translated text in ${path}")
+                }
+            }
             if (names.any { it.endsWith('.class') && (it.contains('/gametest/')
                     || it.contains('/smoke/') || it.startsWith('com/mcmoddev/')) }) {
                 throw new GradleException('Release jar contains validation or legacy implementation classes')