diff --git a/smatch.py b/smatch.py
index 7b31088..5bd4c7b 100755
--- a/smatch.py
+++ b/smatch.py
@@ -877,7 +877,7 @@ def main(arguments):
             if not os.path.exists(file_path):
                 print("Given file", args.f[0], "does not exist", file=ERROR_LOG)
                 exit(1)
-            file_handle.append(open(file_path))
+            file_handle.append(open(file_path, encoding='utf8))
         # use opened files
         args.f = tuple(file_handle)
     #  use argparse if python version is 2.7 or later