diff --git a/mx_ide_eclipse.py b/mx_ide_eclipse.py
index badeca8b..cb87296a 100644
--- a/mx_ide_eclipse.py
+++ b/mx_ide_eclipse.py
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ def read_core_prefs_file(self):
     class FileInfo:
         def __init__(self, path):
             self.path = path
-            with open(path) as fp:
+            with open(path, encoding='utf-8') as fp:
                 self.content = fp.read()
             self.times = (os.path.getatime(path), mx.getmtime(path))