diff --git a/aqt/profiles.py b/aqt/profiles.py
index 73e5d8931..55e2bce38 100644
--- a/aqt/profiles.py
+++ b/aqt/profiles.py
@@ -343,7 +343,7 @@ create table if not exists profiles
         if self.firstRun:
             self.create(_("User 1"))
             p = os.path.join(self.base, "README.txt")
-            open(p, "w").write(_("""\
+            open(p, "w", encoding="utf8").write(_("""\
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