diff --git a/bazarr.py b/bazarr.py
index e5e248770..b718a77c3 100644
--- a/bazarr.py
+++ b/bazarr.py
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ gc.enable()
 
 import os
 import sys
+reload(sys)
+sys.setdefaultencoding('utf8')
 sys.path.insert(0,os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), 'libs/'))
 
 import sqlite3