diff --git a/gramps/gui/aboutdialog.py b/gramps/gui/aboutdialog.py
index 3e42d7cb7..35282797a 100644
--- a/gramps/gui/aboutdialog.py
+++ b/gramps/gui/aboutdialog.py
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
 import os
 import sys
+import io
 
 ##import logging
 ##_LOG = logging.getLogger(".GrampsAboutDialog")
@@ -229,7 +230,7 @@ def _get_authors():
         parser = make_parser()
         parser.setContentHandler(AuthorParser(authors, contributors))
         
-        authors_file = open(AUTHORS_FILE)
+        authors_file = io.open(AUTHORS_FILE, encoding='utf-8')
         parser.parse(authors_file)
         authors_file.close()