diff --git a/jrnl/Journal.py b/jrnl/Journal.py
index 4a2dae30..68808e18 100644
--- a/jrnl/Journal.py
+++ b/jrnl/Journal.py
@@ -380,7 +380,7 @@ class Journal:
 
 class PlainJournal(Journal):
     def _load(self, filename):
-        with open(filename, "r", encoding="utf-8") as f:
+        with open(filename, "r") as f:
             return f.read()
 
     def _store(self, filename, text):
@@ -394,7 +394,7 @@ class LegacyJournal(Journal):
     by square brackets. You'll not be able to save these journals anymore."""
 
     def _load(self, filename):
-        with open(filename, "r", encoding="utf-8") as f:
+        with open(filename, "rb") as f:
             return f.read()
 
     def _parse(self, journal_txt):
diff --git a/jrnl/encryption/BaseEncryption.py b/jrnl/encryption/BaseEncryption.py
index 6fcaa2b1..0bbec442 100644
--- a/jrnl/encryption/BaseEncryption.py
+++ b/jrnl/encryption/BaseEncryption.py
@@ -3,19 +3,31 @@
 from abc import ABC
 from abc import abstractmethod
 
+from jrnl.exception import JrnlException
+from jrnl.messages import Message
+from jrnl.messages import MsgStyle
+from jrnl.messages import MsgText
+
 
 class BaseEncryption(ABC):
+    _encoding: str
+    _journal_name: str
+
     def __init__(self, journal_name, config):
+        self._encoding = "utf-8"
         self._journal_name = journal_name
         self._config = config
 
-    @abstractmethod
     def encrypt(self, text: str) -> str:
-        pass
+        return self._encrypt(text)
 
-    @abstractmethod
-    def decrypt(self, text: str) -> str | None:
-        pass
+    def decrypt(self, text: str) -> str:
+        if (result := self._decrypt(text)) is None:
+            raise JrnlException(
+                Message(MsgText.DecryptionFailedGeneric, MsgStyle.ERROR)
+            )
+
+        return result
 
     @abstractmethod
     def _encrypt(self, text: str) -> str:
@@ -27,7 +39,7 @@ class BaseEncryption(ABC):
         pass
 
     @abstractmethod
-    def _decrypt(self, text: str) -> str:
+    def _decrypt(self, text: bytes) -> str | None:
         """
         This is needed because self.decrypt might need
         to perform actions (e.g. prompt for password)
diff --git a/jrnl/encryption/BasePasswordEncryption.py b/jrnl/encryption/BasePasswordEncryption.py
index bca59093..0f09284a 100644
--- a/jrnl/encryption/BasePasswordEncryption.py
+++ b/jrnl/encryption/BasePasswordEncryption.py
@@ -8,17 +8,14 @@ from jrnl.prompt import prompt_password
 
 class BasePasswordEncryption(BaseEncryption):
     _attempts: int
-    _journal_name: str
     _max_attempts: int
     _password: str | None
-    _encoding: str
 
     def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         super().__init__(*args, **kwargs)
         self._attempts = 0
         self._max_attempts = 3
         self._password = None
-        self._encoding = "utf-8"
 
         # Check keyring first for password.
         # That way we'll have it.
@@ -38,7 +35,7 @@ class BasePasswordEncryption(BaseEncryption):
             self.password = create_password(self._journal_name)
         return self._encrypt(text)
 
-    def decrypt(self, text):
+    def decrypt(self, text: bytes) -> str:
         if self.password is None:
             self._prompt_password()
         while (result := self._decrypt(text)) is None:
diff --git a/jrnl/encryption/Jrnlv1Encryption.py b/jrnl/encryption/Jrnlv1Encryption.py
index 3ab70b4a..14190230 100644
--- a/jrnl/encryption/Jrnlv1Encryption.py
+++ b/jrnl/encryption/Jrnlv1Encryption.py
@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@ class Jrnlv1Encryption(BasePasswordEncryption):
 
     def _decrypt(self, text: bytes) -> str | None:
         iv, cipher = text[:16], text[16:]
-        decryption_key = hashlib.sha256(self._password.encode("utf-8")).digest()
+        password = self._password or ""
+        decryption_key = hashlib.sha256(password.encode(self._encoding)).digest()
         decryptor = Cipher(
             algorithms.AES(decryption_key), modes.CBC(iv), default_backend()
         ).decryptor()
@@ -29,10 +30,10 @@ class Jrnlv1Encryption(BasePasswordEncryption):
             # self._password = password
             if plain_padded[-1] in (" ", 32):
                 # Ancient versions of jrnl. Do not judge me.
-                return plain_padded.decode("utf-8").rstrip(" ")
+                return plain_padded.decode(self._encoding).rstrip(" ")
             else:
                 unpadder = padding.PKCS7(algorithms.AES.block_size).unpadder()
                 plain = unpadder.update(plain_padded) + unpadder.finalize()
-                return plain.decode("utf-8")
+                return plain.decode(self._encoding)
         except ValueError:
             return None
diff --git a/jrnl/encryption/Jrnlv2Encryption.py b/jrnl/encryption/Jrnlv2Encryption.py
index c27e6abe..11747841 100644
--- a/jrnl/encryption/Jrnlv2Encryption.py
+++ b/jrnl/encryption/Jrnlv2Encryption.py
@@ -49,12 +49,8 @@ class Jrnlv2Encryption(BasePasswordEncryption):
             .decode(self._encoding)
         )
 
-    def _decrypt(self, text: str) -> str | None:
+    def _decrypt(self, text: bytes) -> str | None:
         try:
-            return (
-                Fernet(self._key)
-                .decrypt(text.encode(self._encoding))
-                .decode(self._encoding)
-            )
+            return Fernet(self._key).decrypt(text).decode(self._encoding)
         except (InvalidToken, IndexError):
             return None
diff --git a/jrnl/encryption/NoEncryption.py b/jrnl/encryption/NoEncryption.py
index 9f199066..60475a7a 100644
--- a/jrnl/encryption/NoEncryption.py
+++ b/jrnl/encryption/NoEncryption.py
@@ -1,13 +1,14 @@
 # Copyright © 2012-2022 jrnl contributors
 # License: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.html
+from jrnl.encryption.BaseEncryption import BaseEncryption
 
 
-class NoEncryption:
+class NoEncryption(BaseEncryption):
     def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
-        pass
+        super().__init__(*args, **kwargs)
 
-    def encrypt(self, text: str) -> str:
+    def _encrypt(self, text: str) -> str:
         return text
 
-    def decrypt(self, text: str) -> str:
+    def _decrypt(self, text: str) -> str:
         return text
diff --git a/jrnl/messages/MsgText.py b/jrnl/messages/MsgText.py
index 0f509645..3695eada 100644
--- a/jrnl/messages/MsgText.py
+++ b/jrnl/messages/MsgText.py
@@ -93,6 +93,8 @@ class MsgText(Enum):
         of journal can't be encrypted. Please fix your config file.
         """
 
+    DecryptionFailedGeneric = "The decryption of journal data failed."
+
     KeyboardInterruptMsg = "Aborted by user"
 
     CantReadTemplate = """
diff --git a/jrnl/upgrade.py b/jrnl/upgrade.py
index bb81266d..e9f1c136 100644
--- a/jrnl/upgrade.py
+++ b/jrnl/upgrade.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 # Copyright © 2012-2022 jrnl contributors
 # License: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.html
 
+import logging
 import os
 
 from jrnl import Journal
@@ -131,7 +132,10 @@ def upgrade_jrnl(config_path):
         old_journal = Journal.open_journal(
             journal_name, scope_config(config, journal_name), legacy=True
         )
-        all_journals.append(Journal.PlainJournal.from_journal(old_journal))
+
+        logging.debug(f"Clearing encryption method for '{journal_name}' journal")
+        old_journal.encryption_method = None
+        all_journals.append(old_journal)
 
     for journal_name, path in plain_journals.items():
         print_msg(