diff --git a/src/lingva/extractors/python.py b/src/lingva/extractors/python.py
index 9ef35aa..788e36d 100644
--- a/src/lingva/extractors/python.py
+++ b/src/lingva/extractors/python.py
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ def parse_translationstring(arguments, filename, firstline):
 
 def _open(filename):
     """Injection point for tests."""
-    return open(filename, "r")
+    return open(filename, "r", encoding="utf-8")
 
 
 def safe_eval(s):