--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ sys.path.insert(0, './searx')
 from version import VERSION_STRING
 import brand
 
-with open('README.rst') as f:
+with open('README.rst', encoding='utf-8') as f:
     long_description = f.read()
 
 with open('requirements.txt') as f:
