diff --git a/mailmerge/__main__.py b/mailmerge/__main__.py
index ae30d7c..8492e6c 100644
--- a/mailmerge/__main__.py
+++ b/mailmerge/__main__.py
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ class StrictExcel(csv.excel):
         # pylint: disable=too-few-public-methods, missing-class-docstring
         strict = True
 
-    with database_path.open("r") as database_file:
+    with database_path.open(mode="r", encoding="utf-8") as database_file:
         reader = csv.DictReader(database_file, dialect=StrictExcel)
         try:
             for row in reader: