diff --git a/ceilometer/storage/sqlalchemy/models.py b/ceilometer/storage/sqlalchemy/models.py
index 1238ecd211..24b2416fd5 100644
--- a/ceilometer/storage/sqlalchemy/models.py
+++ b/ceilometer/storage/sqlalchemy/models.py
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ def table_args():
     engine_name = urlparse(cfg.CONF.database_connection).scheme
     if engine_name == 'mysql':
         return {'mysql_engine': cfg.CONF.mysql_engine,
-                'mysql_charset': utf8}
+                'mysql_charset': "utf8"}
     return None
 
 
diff --git a/tests/storage/test_impl_sqlalchemy.py b/tests/storage/test_impl_sqlalchemy.py
index e256dde798..5b2bdce4d9 100644
--- a/tests/storage/test_impl_sqlalchemy.py
+++ b/tests/storage/test_impl_sqlalchemy.py
@@ -28,8 +28,8 @@
 from ceilometer import storage
 from ceilometer.openstack.common import cfg
 from ceilometer.storage import impl_sqlalchemy
-from ceilometer.storage.sqlalchemy.models import Meter, Project, Resource
-from ceilometer.storage.sqlalchemy.models import User
+from ceilometer.storage.sqlalchemy.models import Meter, Project, Resource, User
+from ceilometer.storage.sqlalchemy.models import table_args
 
 
 LOG = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -721,3 +721,8 @@ def test_start_end_timestamp(self):
 
         results = list(self.conn.get_volume_max(f))
         assert results == expected
+
+
+def test_model_table_args():
+    cfg.CONF.database_connection = 'mysql://localhost'
+    assert table_args()