diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index c07082a..ef48870 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ Created on Oct 15, 2014
 
 @author: tmahrt
 '''
+import codecs
 from distutils.core import setup
 setup(name='pysle',
       version='1.3.0',
@@ -13,6 +14,6 @@ setup(name='pysle',
       package_dir={'pysle':'pysle'},
       packages=['pysle'],
       license='LICENSE',
-      long_description=open('README.rst', 'r').read(),
+      long_description=codecs.open('README.rst', 'r', encoding="utf-8").read(),
 #       install_requires=[], # No requirements! # requires 'from setuptools import setup'
       )