diff --git a/flox/__init__.py b/flox/__init__.py
index 70f0d5e..33e66bb 100644
--- a/flox/__init__.py
+++ b/flox/__init__.py
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ def plugindir(self):
 
     @cached_property
     def manifest(self):
-        with open(os.path.join(self.plugindir, PLUGIN_MANIFEST), 'r') as f:
+        with open(os.path.join(self.plugindir, PLUGIN_MANIFEST), 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f:
             return json.load(f)
 
     @cached_property
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ def appdata(self):
 
     @property
     def app_settings(self):
-        with open(os.path.join(self.appdata, 'Settings', 'Settings.json'), 'r') as f:
+        with open(os.path.join(self.appdata, 'Settings', 'Settings.json'), 'r', encoding='utf-8') as f:
             return json.load(f)
 
     @property
diff --git a/flox/version b/flox/version
index b72b05e..c0b8d59 100644
--- a/flox/version
+++ b/flox/version
@@ -1 +1 @@
-0.19.3
+0.19.4