--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -904,7 +904,7 @@
             ('README.rst', 'text/x-rst'),
         ]:
             try:
-                kw['long_description'] = open(readme_file_name).read()
+                kw['long_description'] = open(readme_file_name, encoding="utf8").read()
                 kw['long_description_content_type'] = readme_markup_type
                 break
             except FileNotFoundError: