diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 3219cef388ff1972f859e68a4cb79a427973ddce..5070690a0f6f8becceb70ef8af4c1702e18f4b2c 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import sys
 from setuptools import setup, find_packages
 
 assert sys.version_info >= (3, 6)
-with open('README.md') as readme_file:
+with open('README.md', 'r', encoding='utf8') as readme_file:
     readme = readme_file.read()