diff --git a/cut_head.py b/cut_head.py
index f0f71f3..df9fb2e 100644
--- a/cut_head.py
+++ b/cut_head.py
@@ -4,6 +4,20 @@ import os
 import glob
 import sys
 
+def probe_streams(video_path):
+    """Probes the input file and returns info about its streams."""
+    cmd = [
+        'ffprobe', '-v', 'error', '-show_entries',
+        'stream=index,codec_type,codec_name',
+        '-of', 'json', video_path
+    ]
+    result = subprocess.run(cmd, capture_output=True, text=True)
+    try:
+        data = json.loads(result.stdout)
+        return data.get('streams', [])
+    except (json.JSONDecodeError, ValueError):
+        return []
+
 def get_video_duration(video_path):
     """Uses ffprobe to extract the exact duration of the baseline video."""
     print(f"Analyzing baseline duration: {video_path}...")
@@ -46,31 +60,56 @@ def get_next_keyframe(input_video, cut_timestamp):
 def smart_cut(input_video, output_video, cut_timestamp):
     """Executes the Smart Cut process: Re-encode a tiny segment, copy the rest, and stitch."""
     print(f"Processing: {input_video}...")
+
+    # 0. Pre-flight: check the file actually has a video stream
+    streams = probe_streams(input_video)
+    video_streams = [s for s in streams if s.get('codec_type') == 'video']
+    audio_streams = [s for s in streams if s.get('codec_type') == 'audio']
+    if not video_streams:
+        print(f"Skipping {input_video}: No video stream found. Streams detected: "
+              f"{[s.get('codec_type') + '/' + s.get('codec_name', '?') for s in streams]}")
+        return
+    print(f"  Streams: video={[s.get('codec_name') for s in video_streams]}, "
+          f"audio={[s.get('codec_name') for s in audio_streams]}")
+
     next_keyframe = get_next_keyframe(input_video, cut_timestamp)
     
     if not next_keyframe:
         print(f"Skipping {input_video}: Could not find a keyframe after {cut_timestamp}s.")
         return
 
-    part1 = f"temp_part1_{input_video}"
-    part2 = f"temp_part2_{input_video}"
-    concat_list = f"concat_{input_video}.txt"
+    # Use sanitised temp filenames to avoid issues with special chars in the original name
+    part1 = "temp_part1.mp4"
+    part2 = "temp_part2.mp4"
+    concat_list = "concat_list.txt"
 
     try:
         # 1. Re-encode the tiny segment (from exact cut to next keyframe)
         # Audio is removed (-an) to prevent sync/overlap issues during concatenation
-        subprocess.run([
+        res1 = subprocess.run([
             'ffmpeg', '-y', '-v', 'error', '-i', input_video, 
             '-ss', str(cut_timestamp), '-to', str(next_keyframe), 
             '-c:v', 'libx264', '-crf', '18', '-an', part1
-        ], check=True)
+        ], capture_output=True, text=True)
+        if res1.returncode != 0:
+            print(f"  Step 1 failed (re-encode segment): {res1.stderr.strip()}")
+            return
         
         # 2. Copy the rest of the video (from next keyframe to the end)
         # Audio is removed (-an) here too
-        subprocess.run([
+        res2 = subprocess.run([
             'ffmpeg', '-y', '-v', 'error', '-ss', str(next_keyframe), '-i', input_video, 
             '-c:v', 'copy', '-an', part2
-        ], check=True)
+        ], capture_output=True, text=True)
+        if res2.returncode != 0:
+            print(f"  Step 2 failed (copy remainder): {res2.stderr.strip()}")
+            return
+
+        # Validate that both parts have content
+        for label, fp in [("Part 1", part1), ("Part 2", part2)]:
+            if not os.path.exists(fp) or os.path.getsize(fp) == 0:
+                print(f"  Skipping {input_video}: {label} is empty — source encoding may be incompatible.")
+                return
         
         # 3. Concatenate video parts and cleanly mux with the original extracted audio
         with open(concat_list, 'w', encoding='utf-8') as f:
@@ -86,7 +125,7 @@ def smart_cut(input_video, output_video, cut_timestamp):
         print(f"Success! Saved to {output_video}")
 
     except subprocess.CalledProcessError as e:
-        print(f"Error processing {input_video}. FFmpeg failed.")
+        print(f"Error processing {input_video}. FFmpeg failed: {e}")
     finally:
         # 4. Clean up temporary files safely
         for temp_file in [part1, part2, concat_list]: