1 files changed, 2 insertions, 1 deletions
diff --git a/synapse/config/_base.py b/synapse/config/_base.py
index fd137853b1..34a2370e67 100644
--- a/synapse/config/_base.py
+++ b/synapse/config/_base.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import errno
 import os
 from collections import OrderedDict
 from hashlib import sha256
+from io import open as io_open
 from textwrap import dedent
 from typing import Any, List, MutableMapping, Optional
 
@@ -181,7 +182,7 @@ class Config(object):
     @classmethod
     def read_file(cls, file_path, config_name):
         cls.check_file(file_path, config_name)
-        with open(file_path) as file_stream:
+        with io_open(file_path, encoding="utf-8") as file_stream:
             return file_stream.read()