diff --git a/inc/database.php b/inc/database.php
index f5ea73bd..4b0bb6c3 100644
--- a/inc/database.php
+++ b/inc/database.php
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ function sql_open() {
 
 	$dsn = $config['db']['type'] . ':' .
 		($unix_socket ? 'unix_socket=' . $unix_socket : 'host=' . $config['db']['server']) .
-		';dbname=' . $config['db']['database'];
+		';charset=utf8mb4;dbname=' . $config['db']['database'];
 	if (!empty($config['db']['dsn']))
 		$dsn .= ';' . $config['db']['dsn'];
 	try {
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ function sql_open() {
 		if ($config['debug']) {
 			$debug['time']['db_connect'] = '~' . round((microtime(true) - $start) * 1000, 2) . 'ms';
 			if ($config['db']['type'] == "mysql") {
-				query('SET NAMES utf8') or error(db_error());
+				query('SET NAMES utf8mb4') or error(db_error());
 			}
 		}
 		return $pdo;