diff --git a/config/database.php b/config/database.php
index 503da619..f6cf86b4 100644
--- a/config/database.php
+++ b/config/database.php
@@ -81,6 +81,7 @@
             'database' => env('DB_DATABASE', 'forge'),
             'username' => env('DB_USERNAME', 'forge'),
             'password' => env('DB_PASSWORD', ''),
+            'charset'  => 'utf8',
             'prefix'   => '',
         ],