diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 2f8efa2..eb26bad 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -18,6 +18,12 @@ Supports a MAXIMUM of 40 seconds. Iv tried removing this limitation, but the mod
    pip install -r ComfyUI_Fill-ChatterBox/requirements.txt
    ```
 
+3. (Optional) Install watermarking support:
+   ```bash
+   pip install resemble-perth
+   ```
+   **Note**: The `resemble-perth` package may have compatibility issues with Python 3.12+. If you encounter import errors, the nodes will still function without watermarking.
+
 
 ## Usage
 
@@ -37,6 +43,8 @@ Supports a MAXIMUM of 40 seconds. Iv tried removing this limitation, but the mod
 - Added seed parameter to both TTS and VC nodes for reproducible generation
 - Seed range: 0 to 4,294,967,295 (32-bit integer)
 - Enables consistent audio output for debugging and workflow control
+- Made Perth watermarking optional to fix Python 3.12+ compatibility issues
+- Nodes now function without watermarking if resemble-perth import fails
 
 ### 5/31/2025
 - Added Persistent model loading, and loading bar functionality
diff --git a/local_chatterbox/chatterbox/tts.py b/local_chatterbox/chatterbox/tts.py
index 7186a0d..2584656 100644
--- a/local_chatterbox/chatterbox/tts.py
+++ b/local_chatterbox/chatterbox/tts.py
@@ -3,8 +3,15 @@ from pathlib import Path
 
 import librosa
 import torch
-import perth
 import torch.nn.functional as F
+
+# Optional Perth watermarking - gracefully handle import failure
+try:
+    import perth
+    PERTH_AVAILABLE = True
+except ImportError:
+    PERTH_AVAILABLE = False
+    print("Warning: Perth watermarking not available. Audio will be generated without watermarking.")
 from huggingface_hub import hf_hub_download
 from safetensors.torch import load_file
 
@@ -123,7 +130,7 @@ class ChatterboxTTS:
         self.tokenizer = tokenizer
         self.device = device
         self.conds = conds
-        self.watermarker = perth.PerthImplicitWatermarker()
+        self.watermarker = perth.PerthImplicitWatermarker() if PERTH_AVAILABLE else None
 
     @classmethod
     def from_local(cls, ckpt_dir, device) -> 'ChatterboxTTS':
@@ -259,5 +266,8 @@ class ChatterboxTTS:
                 ref_dict=self.conds.gen,
             )
             wav = wav.squeeze(0).detach().cpu().numpy()
-            watermarked_wav = self.watermarker.apply_watermark(wav, sample_rate=self.sr)
-        return torch.from_numpy(watermarked_wav).unsqueeze(0)
\ No newline at end of file
+            if self.watermarker is not None:
+                watermarked_wav = self.watermarker.apply_watermark(wav, sample_rate=self.sr)
+                return torch.from_numpy(watermarked_wav).unsqueeze(0)
+            else:
+                return torch.from_numpy(wav).unsqueeze(0)
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/local_chatterbox/chatterbox/vc.py b/local_chatterbox/chatterbox/vc.py
index d2be3da..6508a70 100644
--- a/local_chatterbox/chatterbox/vc.py
+++ b/local_chatterbox/chatterbox/vc.py
@@ -2,9 +2,16 @@ from pathlib import Path
 
 import librosa
 import torch
-import perth
 from huggingface_hub import hf_hub_download
 
+# Optional Perth watermarking - gracefully handle import failure
+try:
+    import perth
+    PERTH_AVAILABLE = True
+except ImportError:
+    PERTH_AVAILABLE = False
+    print("Warning: Perth watermarking not available. Audio will be generated without watermarking.")
+
 from .models.s3tokenizer import S3_SR
 from .models.s3gen import S3GEN_SR, S3Gen
 
@@ -25,7 +32,7 @@ class ChatterboxVC:
         self.sr = S3GEN_SR
         self.s3gen = s3gen
         self.device = device
-        self.watermarker = perth.PerthImplicitWatermarker()
+        self.watermarker = perth.PerthImplicitWatermarker() if PERTH_AVAILABLE else None
         if ref_dict is None:
             self.ref_dict = None
         else:
@@ -99,5 +106,8 @@ class ChatterboxVC:
                 ref_dict=self.ref_dict,
             )
             wav = wav.squeeze(0).detach().cpu().numpy()
-            watermarked_wav = self.watermarker.apply_watermark(wav, sample_rate=self.sr)
-        return torch.from_numpy(watermarked_wav).unsqueeze(0)
\ No newline at end of file
+            if self.watermarker is not None:
+                watermarked_wav = self.watermarker.apply_watermark(wav, sample_rate=self.sr)
+                return torch.from_numpy(watermarked_wav).unsqueeze(0)
+            else:
+                return torch.from_numpy(wav).unsqueeze(0)
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index 70519ea..3bff793 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -4,7 +4,8 @@ librosa
 s3tokenizer
 transformers
 diffusers
-resemble-perth
 omegaconf
 conformer
-safetensors
\ No newline at end of file
+safetensors
+# Optional watermarking (may have Python 3.12+ compatibility issues)
+# resemble-perth
\ No newline at end of file