diff --git a/mkdocs/build.py b/mkdocs/build.py
index bda728205d..412aff32c8 100644
--- a/mkdocs/build.py
+++ b/mkdocs/build.py
@@ -6,13 +6,14 @@
 from jinja2.exceptions import TemplateNotFound
 import mkdocs
 from mkdocs import nav, toc, utils
-from mkdocs.compat import urljoin, PY2
+from mkdocs.compat import urljoin
 from mkdocs.relative_path_ext import RelativePathExtension
 import jinja2
 import json
 import markdown
 import os
 import logging
+from io import open
 
 log = logging.getLogger('mkdocs')
 
@@ -161,14 +162,11 @@ def _build_page(page, config, site_navigation, env, dump_json):
     input_path = os.path.join(config['docs_dir'], page.input_path)
 
     try:
-        input_content = open(input_path, 'r').read()
+        input_content = open(input_path, 'r', encoding='utf-8').read()
     except IOError:
         log.error('file not found: %s', input_path)
         return
 
-    if PY2:
-        input_content = input_content.decode('utf-8')
-
     # Process the markdown text
     html_content, table_of_contents, meta = convert_markdown(
         input_content, site_navigation,
diff --git a/mkdocs/config.py b/mkdocs/config.py
index 3a5d78eb15..0655927437 100644
--- a/mkdocs/config.py
+++ b/mkdocs/config.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 import logging
 import os
 import yaml
+from io import open
 
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -81,7 +82,7 @@ def load_config(filename='mkdocs.yml', options=None):
         options['config'] = filename
     if not os.path.exists(filename):
         raise ConfigurationError("Config file '%s' does not exist." % filename)
-    with open(filename, 'r') as fp:
+    with open(filename, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as fp:
         user_config = yaml.load(fp)
         if not isinstance(user_config, dict):
             raise ConfigurationError("The mkdocs.yml file is invalid. See http://www.mkdocs.org/user-guide/configuration/ for more information.")
diff --git a/mkdocs/new.py b/mkdocs/new.py
index b119d45f4a..88531757b3 100644
--- a/mkdocs/new.py
+++ b/mkdocs/new.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 # coding: utf-8
 from __future__ import print_function
 import os
+from io import open
 
 config_text = 'site_name: My Docs\n'
 index_text = """# Welcome to MkDocs
@@ -43,7 +44,7 @@ def new(args, options):
         os.mkdir(output_dir)
 
     print('Writing config file: %s' % config_path)
-    open(config_path, 'w').write(config_text)
+    open(config_path, 'w', encoding='utf-8').write(config_text)
 
     if os.path.exists(index_path):
         return
@@ -51,4 +52,4 @@ def new(args, options):
     print('Writing initial docs: %s' % index_path)
     if not os.path.exists(docs_dir):
         os.mkdir(docs_dir)
-    open(index_path, 'w').write(index_text)
+    open(index_path, 'w', encoding='utf-8').write(index_text)