diff --git a/development.ini b/development.ini
--- a/development.ini
+++ b/development.ini
@@ -493,7 +493,7 @@ sqlalchemy.db1.url = sqlite:///%(here)s/
 #sqlalchemy.db1.url = postgresql://user:pass@localhost/kallithea
 
 # MySQL
-#sqlalchemy.db1.url = mysql://user:pass@localhost/kallithea
+#sqlalchemy.db1.url = mysql://user:pass@localhost/kallithea?charset=utf8
 
 # see sqlalchemy docs for others
 
diff --git a/kallithea/bin/template.ini.mako b/kallithea/bin/template.ini.mako
--- a/kallithea/bin/template.ini.mako
+++ b/kallithea/bin/template.ini.mako
@@ -495,7 +495,7 @@ sqlalchemy.db1.url = postgresql://user:p
 
 %elif database_engine == 'mysql':
 # MySQL
-sqlalchemy.db1.url = mysql://user:pass@localhost/kallithea
+sqlalchemy.db1.url = mysql://user:pass@localhost/kallithea?charset=utf8
 
 %endif
 # see sqlalchemy docs for others
diff --git a/kallithea/config/deployment.ini_tmpl b/kallithea/config/deployment.ini_tmpl
--- a/kallithea/config/deployment.ini_tmpl
+++ b/kallithea/config/deployment.ini_tmpl
@@ -485,7 +485,7 @@ sqlalchemy.db1.url = sqlite:///%(here)s/
 #sqlalchemy.db1.url = postgresql://user:pass@localhost/kallithea
 
 # MySQL
-#sqlalchemy.db1.url = mysql://user:pass@localhost/kallithea
+#sqlalchemy.db1.url = mysql://user:pass@localhost/kallithea?charset=utf8
 
 # see sqlalchemy docs for others
 
diff --git a/kallithea/tests/test.ini b/kallithea/tests/test.ini
--- a/kallithea/tests/test.ini
+++ b/kallithea/tests/test.ini
@@ -495,7 +495,7 @@ sqlalchemy.db1.url = sqlite:///%(here)s/
 #sqlalchemy.db1.url = postgresql://user:pass@localhost/kallithea
 
 # MySQL
-#sqlalchemy.db1.url = mysql://user:pass@localhost/kallithea
+#sqlalchemy.db1.url = mysql://user:pass@localhost/kallithea?charset=utf8
 
 # see sqlalchemy docs for others