diff --git a/sqlExport.py b/sqlExport.py
index 6f16ba2..d21b3b3 100644
--- a/sqlExport.py
+++ b/sqlExport.py
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ with open('tableMapping.yaml') as f:
 
 
 conn =  MySQLdb.connect(**MEMBERSHIPWORKS_DB)
+conn.set_character_set('utf8')
 c = conn.cursor()
 
 def createDefinitionsFromTableMap(tableMap):