diff --git a/backend/apps/rag/main.py b/backend/apps/rag/main.py
index d87f7bc73..da7bb307d 100644
--- a/backend/apps/rag/main.py
+++ b/backend/apps/rag/main.py
@@ -411,7 +411,7 @@ def get_loader(filename: str, file_content_type: str, file_path: str):
     elif file_ext == "xml":
         loader = UnstructuredXMLLoader(file_path)
     elif file_ext in ["htm", "html"]:
-        loader = BSHTMLLoader(file_path)
+        loader = BSHTMLLoader(file_path, open_encoding="unicode_escape")
     elif file_ext == "md":
         loader = UnstructuredMarkdownLoader(file_path)
     elif file_content_type == "application/epub+zip":