diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 0607144..8dec923 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 def readme():
     """Read README contents
     """
-    with open('README.md') as f:
+    with open('README.md', encoding='utf8') as f:
         return f.read()