diff --git a/docs/test-scripts.md b/docs/test-scripts.md
index afae0b6..fc839a9 100644
--- a/docs/test-scripts.md
+++ b/docs/test-scripts.md
@@ -207,7 +207,8 @@ TEST-RUN step 4: MENU-SELECT ENVELOPE=80c2000009d30702020181900101 item=1 ('One'
 - A `proactive-drain` action logs its rounds (`STATUS i/N -> …`, `FETCH=…`,
   `CMD 0x…`, `TR=… -> SW=…`); the run cleanup logs
   `TEST-RUN drain: <CMD> (0xNN) TR=… -> SW=…`.
-- A failing step adds `TEST-RUN step N failed: …` with the reason.
+- A failing step adds `TEST-RUN step N failed (<level>): …` with the reason
+  (`<level>` is `error` or `warning` - a tolerant step's line names its level).
 - The shared secured-packet sender logs each segment's answer
   (`OTA SEND: ENVELOPE i/N -> <SW>`).
 - `--apdu-trace` adds the raw transport view
@@ -457,7 +458,10 @@ identities, **Result**, Duration, Text string, Item identifier, …):
   uses the spec's recommended codings: `"00"` GSM default alphabet 7 bits
   **packed**, `"04"` GSM default alphabet 8 bits (one octet per character),
   `"08"` **UCS2** (UTF-16-BE).  An empty `text` sends the null text string
-  (Length `00`).
+  (Length `00`).  A text the selected `dcs` cannot code (a non-GSM character
+  with `00`/`04`) is **refused at load** - the error names the coding and
+  points at `dcs: "08"` (the run must not fail after the command was
+  fetched).
 - `item_id` - the Item identifier for a successful SELECT ITEM answer.
 - `raw` - extra COMPREHENSION-TLVs appended after the standard objects.
 
diff --git a/frontend/index.html b/frontend/index.html
index 4503a7b..54c6a17 100644
--- a/frontend/index.html
+++ b/frontend/index.html
@@ -1903,7 +1903,7 @@
 // ===== Version =====
 // Single source of truth for the PWA version: shown in the header and used
 // by the server version check in pysimConnect().
-const SIMPLE_VERSION = '3.22.7';
+const SIMPLE_VERSION = '3.22.8';
 document.getElementById('app-version').textContent = 'v' + SIMPLE_VERSION;
 
 // ===== view history (the browser Back/Forward buttons) =====
diff --git a/frontend/sw.js b/frontend/sw.js
index df2de50..e6866cc 100644
--- a/frontend/sw.js
+++ b/frontend/sw.js
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-const CACHE = 'simple-v411';
+const CACHE = 'simple-v412';
 const URLS = [
   'index.html',
   'help.html',
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 8ec9d8d..c4eb98f 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ build-backend = "setuptools.build_meta"
 
 [project]
 name = "pysim-simple-server"
-version = "3.22.7"
+version = "3.22.8"
 description = "HTTP REST server wrapping pysim for the SIMple PWA"
 requires-python = ">=3.8"
 # pysim is a git-only dependency installed explicitly by setup.bat/setup.sh.
diff --git a/pysim_simple_server/server.py b/pysim_simple_server/server.py
index 3b0d54d..b26d40e 100644
--- a/pysim_simple_server/server.py
+++ b/pysim_simple_server/server.py
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ from osmocom.tlv import BER_TLV_IE
 from osmocom.utils import rpad
 
 
-VERSION = '3.22.7'
+VERSION = '3.22.8'
 
 MAX_ENVELOPE_SEGMENTS = 5  # max SMS segments for outgoing C-APDU in ENVELOPE
 
diff --git a/pysim_simple_server/testscript.py b/pysim_simple_server/testscript.py
index 380907e..b96f2c6 100644
--- a/pysim_simple_server/testscript.py
+++ b/pysim_simple_server/testscript.py
@@ -568,6 +568,16 @@ def normalise_respond(respond, cmd_type=None):
         out['text'] = str(respond['text'])
         dcs = respond.get('dcs')
         out['dcs'] = _int(dcs, 'respond dcs', 0, 255) if dcs is not None else 0x00
+        # The same coding the TERMINAL RESPONSE builder uses: a text the
+        # selected dcs cannot code (a non-GSM character with 00/04) must fail
+        # the script at load, not mid-run after the command was fetched
+        # (v3.22.8 review).
+        try:
+            _encode_text(out['text'], out['dcs'])
+        except Exception:
+            raise ScriptError(
+                'respond: the text cannot be coded with dcs %02X - use dcs 08 '
+                '(UCS2) for non-GSM characters' % out['dcs'])
     extra = respond.get('raw')
     if extra not in (None, ''):
         out['raw'] = _data_hex(extra, 'respond raw')
diff --git a/tests/test_testscript.py b/tests/test_testscript.py
index 1774428..e9a2664 100644
--- a/tests/test_testscript.py
+++ b/tests/test_testscript.py
@@ -179,6 +179,27 @@ class TestValidation(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(tr.hex().upper(),
                          '8103042300' + '82028182' + '83020000' + '8D00')
 
+    def test_a_text_the_dcs_cannot_code_is_refused_at_load(self):
+        # v3.22.8: the load-time check uses the same coding the TERMINAL
+        # RESPONSE builder does - a non-GSM character with dcs 00/04 must
+        # fail the script at load, not mid-run after the command was fetched.
+        with self.assertRaises(T.ScriptError) as cm:
+            T.normalise_respond({'result': 'ok', 'text': 'Пароль'})
+        self.assertIn('dcs 00', str(cm.exception))
+        self.assertIn('dcs 08', str(cm.exception))
+        with self.assertRaises(T.ScriptError):
+            T.normalise_respond({'result': 'ok', 'text': 'Пароль', 'dcs': '04'})
+        # UCS2 accepts it; ASCII and the empty answer pass as before
+        self.assertEqual(T.normalise_respond({'text': 'Пароль', 'dcs': '08'})['dcs'], 0x08)
+        self.assertEqual(T.normalise_respond({'text': 'hello'})['text'], 'hello')
+        self.assertEqual(T.normalise_respond({'text': ''})['text'], '')
+        # a whole script is refused with the same message at run start
+        with self.assertRaises(T.ScriptError) as cm:
+            T.normalise_script({'steps': [
+                {'type': 'expect', 'command': 'GET INPUT',
+                 'respond': {'result': 'ok', 'text': 'Пароль'}}]}, _resolver)
+        self.assertIn('cannot be coded', str(cm.exception))
+
     def test_menu_select_params_accept_id_or_text(self):
         script = T.normalise_script({'steps': [
             {'type': 'action', 'kind': 'menu-select', 'params': {'item_id': 3}},