diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index f80dcff2c..c9aeec7d2 100755
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -43,7 +43,8 @@ def get_version(package):
     """
     Return package version as listed in `__version__` in `init.py`.
     """
-    init_py = open(os.path.join(package, '__init__.py')).read()
+    with open(os.path.join(package, '__init__.py'), encoding='utf-8') as f:
+        init_py = f.read()
     return re.search("__version__ = ['\"]([^'\"]+)['\"]", init_py).group(1)