diff --git a/aiserver.py b/aiserver.py
index cd4854ba..21689acd 100644
--- a/aiserver.py
+++ b/aiserver.py
@@ -7273,7 +7273,7 @@ def save():
     save_name = koboldai_vars.story_name if koboldai_vars.story_name != "" else "untitled"
     same_story = True
     if os.path.exists("stories/{}".format(save_name)):
-        with open("stories/{}/story.json".format(save_name), "r") as settings_file:
+        with open("stories/{}/story.json".format(save_name), "r", encoding="utf-8") as settings_file:
             json_data = json.load(settings_file)
             if 'story_id' in json_data:
                 same_story = json_data['story_id'] == koboldai_vars.story_id
@@ -7334,7 +7334,7 @@ def saveRequest(savpath, savepins=True):
 
         # Write it
         try:
-            file = open(savpath, "w")
+            file = open(savpath, "w", encoding="utf-8")
         except Exception as e:
             return e
         try:
@@ -7345,7 +7345,7 @@ def saveRequest(savpath, savepins=True):
         file.close()
         
         try:
-            file = open(txtpath, "w")
+            file = open(txtpath, "w", encoding="utf-8")
         except Exception as e:
             return e
         try:
@@ -7429,7 +7429,7 @@ def loadRequest(loadpath, filename=None):
     # Read file contents into JSON object
     start_time = time.time()
     if(isinstance(loadpath, str)):
-        with open(loadpath, "r") as file:
+        with open(loadpath, "r", encoding="utf-8") as file:
             js = json.load(file)
             from_file=loadpath
         if(filename is None):
diff --git a/koboldai_settings.py b/koboldai_settings.py
index d85e2919..40e87ccc 100644
--- a/koboldai_settings.py
+++ b/koboldai_settings.py
@@ -938,7 +938,7 @@ class story_settings(settings):
         while os.path.exists(self.save_paths.base):
             try:
                 # If the stories share a story id, overwrite the existing one.
-                with open(self.save_paths.story, "r") as file:
+                with open(self.save_paths.story, "r", encoding="utf-8") as file:
                     j = json.load(file)
                     if self.story_id == j["story_id"]:
                         break
@@ -960,7 +960,7 @@ class story_settings(settings):
         v2_path = os.path.join("stories", f"{self.story_name}_v2.json")
         if os.path.exists(v2_path):
             logger.info("Migrating v2 save")
-            with open(v2_path, "r") as file:
+            with open(v2_path, "r", encoding="utf-8") as file:
                 v2j = json.load(file)
             
             if v2j["story_id"] == self.story_id:
@@ -968,7 +968,7 @@ class story_settings(settings):
             else:
                 logger.warning(f"Story mismatch in v2 migration. Existing file had story id {v2j['story_id']} but we have {self.story_id}")
 
-        with open(self.save_paths.story, "w") as file:
+        with open(self.save_paths.story, "w", encoding="utf-8") as file:
             file.write(self.to_json())
         self.gamesaved = True