diff --git a/gramps/plugins/database/bsddb_support/read.py b/gramps/plugins/database/bsddb_support/read.py
index 0cc03e6ef..b3ca37b20 100644
--- a/gramps/plugins/database/bsddb_support/read.py
+++ b/gramps/plugins/database/bsddb_support/read.py
@@ -1969,7 +1969,7 @@ class DbBsddbRead(DbReadBase, Callback):
         """
         filepath = os.path.join(self.path, "name.txt")
         try:
-            name_file = open(filepath, "r")
+            name_file = open(filepath, "r", encoding='utf-8')
             name = name_file.readline().strip()
             name_file.close()
         except (OSError, IOError) as msg: