diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 86c0a88..ddaa662 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 from setuptools import setup
 
 def readme():
-    with open('README.md') as f:
+    with open('README.md', encoding="utf8") as f:
         return f.read()
 
 setup(name='diffeqpy',