1 files changed, 2 insertions, 1 deletions
diff --git a/synapse/config/_base.py b/synapse/config/_base.py
index 30d1050a91..128617b8b3 100644
--- a/synapse/config/_base.py
+++ b/synapse/config/_base.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import argparse
 import errno
 import os
 from collections import OrderedDict
+from io import open as io_open
 from textwrap import dedent
 from typing import Any, 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()