-!- Irssi: warning settings_get_default_str(term_type) : unknown setting 
-!- Irssi: warning settings_get(term_type) : not found 

repeated everytime I change window and/or status is changed or something 
and the fact that it covers 4 statusbar lines by default

Solution: change term_type to term_charset in the wlstat.pl sourcecode :)