diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 3a1bcb574..434a2eaf4 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 
 
 def read(fname):
-    return open(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), fname)).read()
+    return open(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), fname), encoding="utf8").read()
 
 
 # Tested with wheel v0.29.0