diff --git a/.hgignore b/.hgignore
index 67d8ab3..40a30da 100644
--- a/.hgignore
+++ b/.hgignore
@@ -22,4 +22,6 @@ test/lib
 test/imap_settings.py
 venv
 launch.json
-settings.json
\ No newline at end of file
+settings.json
+# Default ignored files
+.idea/workspace.xml
diff --git a/test/basic_doctest.py b/test/basic_doctest.py
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index 1ebadce..2207bed
--- a/test/basic_doctest.py
+++ b/test/basic_doctest.py
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+
 """
 >>> import pEp
 >>> me = pEp.Identity("alice.smith@peptest.ch", "Alice Smith", "23")
diff --git a/test/codec_doctest.py b/test/codec_doctest.py
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index ec2f8bc..95a1a0a
--- a/test/codec_doctest.py
+++ b/test/codec_doctest.py
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+
 """
 >>> import pEp
 >>> def messageToSend(msg):
diff --git a/test/doctest_PYADPT-55.py b/test/doctest_PYADPT-55.py
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index bb3e9fa..0eff8bd
--- a/test/doctest_PYADPT-55.py
+++ b/test/doctest_PYADPT-55.py
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+
 # Regression test against API breakage
 # colors used to be represented as a simple int
 # NEW: colors are represented by colorvalue enum
diff --git a/test/sync_handshake.py b/test/sync_handshake.py
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index 4fec483..c027183
--- a/test/sync_handshake.py
+++ b/test/sync_handshake.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 # vim: set fileencoding=utf-8 :
 
 """start a handshake test for one simulated device
diff --git a/test/sync_test.py b/test/sync_test.py
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index a2cd355..66d7899
--- a/test/sync_test.py
+++ b/test/sync_test.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 # vim: set fileencoding=utf-8 :
 
 """test runner for sync tests