diff --git a/.github/contributors/Bharat123rox.md b/.github/contributors/Bharat123rox.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5e2ad915b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/contributors/Bharat123rox.md
@@ -0,0 +1,106 @@
+# spaCy contributor agreement
+
+This spaCy Contributor Agreement (**"SCA"**) is based on the
+[Oracle Contributor Agreement](http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/oca-405177.pdf).
+The SCA applies to any contribution that you make to any product or project
+managed by us (the **"project"**), and sets out the intellectual property rights
+you grant to us in the contributed materials. The term **"us"** shall mean
+[ExplosionAI GmbH](https://explosion.ai/legal). The term
+**"you"** shall mean the person or entity identified below.
+
+If you agree to be bound by these terms, fill in the information requested
+below and include the filled-in version with your first pull request, under the
+folder [`.github/contributors/`](/.github/contributors/). The name of the file
+should be your GitHub username, with the extension `.md`. For example, the user
+example_user would create the file `.github/contributors/example_user.md`.
+
+Read this agreement carefully before signing. These terms and conditions
+constitute a binding legal agreement.
+
+## Contributor Agreement
+
+1. The term "contribution" or "contributed materials" means any source code,
+object code, patch, tool, sample, graphic, specification, manual,
+documentation, or any other material posted or submitted by you to the project.
+
+2. With respect to any worldwide copyrights, or copyright applications and
+registrations, in your contribution:
+
+    * you hereby assign to us joint ownership, and to the extent that such
+    assignment is or becomes invalid, ineffective or unenforceable, you hereby
+    grant to us a perpetual, irrevocable, non-exclusive, worldwide, no-charge,
+    royalty-free, unrestricted license to exercise all rights under those
+    copyrights. This includes, at our option, the right to sublicense these same
+    rights to third parties through multiple levels of sublicensees or other
+    licensing arrangements;
+
+    * you agree that each of us can do all things in relation to your
+    contribution as if each of us were the sole owners, and if one of us makes
+    a derivative work of your contribution, the one who makes the derivative
+    work (or has it made will be the sole owner of that derivative work;
+
+    * you agree that you will not assert any moral rights in your contribution
+    against us, our licensees or transferees;
+
+    * you agree that we may register a copyright in your contribution and
+    exercise all ownership rights associated with it; and
+
+    * you agree that neither of us has any duty to consult with, obtain the
+    consent of, pay or render an accounting to the other for any use or
+    distribution of your contribution.
+
+3. With respect to any patents you own, or that you can license without payment
+to any third party, you hereby grant to us a perpetual, irrevocable,
+non-exclusive, worldwide, no-charge, royalty-free license to:
+
+    * make, have made, use, sell, offer to sell, import, and otherwise transfer
+    your contribution in whole or in part, alone or in combination with or
+    included in any product, work or materials arising out of the project to
+    which your contribution was submitted, and
+
+    * at our option, to sublicense these same rights to third parties through
+    multiple levels of sublicensees or other licensing arrangements.
+
+4. Except as set out above, you keep all right, title, and interest in your
+contribution. The rights that you grant to us under these terms are effective
+on the date you first submitted a contribution to us, even if your submission
+took place before the date you sign these terms.
+
+5. You covenant, represent, warrant and agree that:
+
+    * Each contribution that you submit is and shall be an original work of
+    authorship and you can legally grant the rights set out in this SCA;
+
+    * to the best of your knowledge, each contribution will not violate any
+    third party's copyrights, trademarks, patents, or other intellectual
+    property rights; and
+
+    * each contribution shall be in compliance with U.S. export control laws and
+    other applicable export and import laws. You agree to notify us if you
+    become aware of any circumstance which would make any of the foregoing
+    representations inaccurate in any respect. We may publicly disclose your
+    participation in the project, including the fact that you have signed the SCA.
+
+6. This SCA is governed by the laws of the State of California and applicable
+U.S. Federal law. Any choice of law rules will not apply.
+
+7. Please place an “x” on one of the applicable statement below. Please do NOT
+mark both statements:
+
+    * [x] I am signing on behalf of myself as an individual and no other person
+    or entity, including my employer, has or will have rights with respect to my
+    contributions.
+
+    * [ ] I am signing on behalf of my employer or a legal entity and I have the
+    actual authority to contractually bind that entity.
+
+## Contributor Details
+
+| Field                          | Entry                |
+|------------------------------- | -------------------- |
+| Name                           | Bharat Raghunathan   |
+| Company name (if applicable)   |                      |
+| Title or role (if applicable)  |                      |
+| Date                           | 19 - 03 - 2019       |
+| GitHub username                | Bharat123rox         |
+| Website (optional)             |                      |
diff --git a/spacy/__init__.py b/spacy/__init__.py
index 3498aafb7..9edbab198 100644
--- a/spacy/__init__.py
+++ b/spacy/__init__.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 # coding: utf8
 from __future__ import unicode_literals
 import warnings
+import sys
 
 warnings.filterwarnings("ignore", message="numpy.dtype size changed")
 warnings.filterwarnings("ignore", message="numpy.ufunc size changed")
@@ -11,10 +12,14 @@ from thinc.neural.util import prefer_gpu, require_gpu
 from .cli.info import info as cli_info
 from .glossary import explain
 from .about import __version__
-from .errors import Warnings, deprecation_warning
+from .errors import Errors, Warnings, deprecation_warning
 from . import util
 
 
+if sys.maxunicode == 65535:
+    raise SystemError(Errors.E130)
+
+
 def load(name, **overrides):
     depr_path = overrides.get("path")
     if depr_path not in (True, False, None):
diff --git a/spacy/errors.py b/spacy/errors.py
index 1fca7060b..b63c46919 100644
--- a/spacy/errors.py
+++ b/spacy/errors.py
@@ -367,6 +367,10 @@ class Errors(object):
             "Instead, create a new Span object and specify the `label` keyword argument, "
             "for example:\nfrom spacy.tokens import Span\n"
             "span = Span(doc, start={start}, end={end}, label='{label}')")
+    E130 = ("You are running a narrow unicode build, which is incompatible "
+            "with spacy >= 2.1.0. To fix this, reinstall Python and use a wide "
+            "unicode build instead. You can also rebuild Python and set the "
+            "--enable-unicode=ucs4 flag.")
 
 
 @add_codes