diff --git a/.pre-commit-config.yaml b/.pre-commit-config.yaml
index 46eb3c0..99b227e 100644
--- a/.pre-commit-config.yaml
+++ b/.pre-commit-config.yaml
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ repos:
 
   # Python linting using ruff
   - repo: https://github.com/astral-sh/ruff-pre-commit
-    rev: v0.4.3
+    rev: v0.4.4
     hooks:
       - id: ruff
         args: ["--fix", "--show-fixes"]
diff --git a/mqt-bench/src/__main__.py b/mqt-bench/src/__main__.py
index 67bdcd6..940f111 100644
--- a/mqt-bench/src/__main__.py
+++ b/mqt-bench/src/__main__.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import json
+import locale
 import logging
 import os
 import sys
@@ -16,10 +17,10 @@
 logging.getLogger().setLevel(logging_level)
 logger.configure(handlers=[{"sink": sys.stdout, "level": logging_level}])
 
-with Path("./input/data.json").open() as file:
+with Path("./input/data.json").open(encoding=locale.getpreferredencoding(False)) as file:
     data = json.load(file)
 
-with Path("./input/params.json").open() as file:
+with Path("./input/params.json").open(encoding=locale.getpreferredencoding(False)) as file:
     params = json.load(file)
 
 response = run(data, params)
diff --git a/mqt-ddsim/src/__main__.py b/mqt-ddsim/src/__main__.py
index 67bdcd6..940f111 100644
--- a/mqt-ddsim/src/__main__.py
+++ b/mqt-ddsim/src/__main__.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import json
+import locale
 import logging
 import os
 import sys
@@ -16,10 +17,10 @@
 logging.getLogger().setLevel(logging_level)
 logger.configure(handlers=[{"sink": sys.stdout, "level": logging_level}])
 
-with Path("./input/data.json").open() as file:
+with Path("./input/data.json").open(encoding=locale.getpreferredencoding(False)) as file:
     data = json.load(file)
 
-with Path("./input/params.json").open() as file:
+with Path("./input/params.json").open(encoding=locale.getpreferredencoding(False)) as file:
     params = json.load(file)
 
 response = run(data, params)
diff --git a/mqt-qcec/src/__main__.py b/mqt-qcec/src/__main__.py
index 67bdcd6..940f111 100644
--- a/mqt-qcec/src/__main__.py
+++ b/mqt-qcec/src/__main__.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import json
+import locale
 import logging
 import os
 import sys
@@ -16,10 +17,10 @@
 logging.getLogger().setLevel(logging_level)
 logger.configure(handlers=[{"sink": sys.stdout, "level": logging_level}])
 
-with Path("./input/data.json").open() as file:
+with Path("./input/data.json").open(encoding=locale.getpreferredencoding(False)) as file:
     data = json.load(file)
 
-with Path("./input/params.json").open() as file:
+with Path("./input/params.json").open(encoding=locale.getpreferredencoding(False)) as file:
     params = json.load(file)
 
 response = run(data, params)
diff --git a/mqt-qmap/src/__main__.py b/mqt-qmap/src/__main__.py
index 67bdcd6..940f111 100644
--- a/mqt-qmap/src/__main__.py
+++ b/mqt-qmap/src/__main__.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import json
+import locale
 import logging
 import os
 import sys
@@ -16,10 +17,10 @@
 logging.getLogger().setLevel(logging_level)
 logger.configure(handlers=[{"sink": sys.stdout, "level": logging_level}])
 
-with Path("./input/data.json").open() as file:
+with Path("./input/data.json").open(encoding=locale.getpreferredencoding(False)) as file:
     data = json.load(file)
 
-with Path("./input/params.json").open() as file:
+with Path("./input/params.json").open(encoding=locale.getpreferredencoding(False)) as file:
     params = json.load(file)
 
 response = run(data, params)