diff --git a/Herbert/Framework/Providers/HerbertServiceProvider.php b/Herbert/Framework/Providers/HerbertServiceProvider.php
index 674ae2a..37e004e 100644
--- a/Herbert/Framework/Providers/HerbertServiceProvider.php
+++ b/Herbert/Framework/Providers/HerbertServiceProvider.php
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ protected function registerEloquent()
             'username' => DB_USER,
             'password' => DB_PASSWORD,
             'charset' => DB_CHARSET,
-            'collation' => DB_COLLATE,
+            'collation' => DB_COLLATE ?: 'utf8_general_ci',
             'prefix' => $wpdb->prefix
         ]);