diff --git a/backend/config.py b/backend/config.py
index 4ba33f076..daa89de57 100644
--- a/backend/config.py
+++ b/backend/config.py
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ def parse_section(section):
 
 try:
     changelog_path = BASE_DIR / "CHANGELOG.md"
-    with open(str(changelog_path.absolute()), "r") as file:
+    with open(str(changelog_path.absolute()), "r", encoding="utf8") as file:
         changelog_content = file.read()
 
 except: