diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index ad611c99f..e46587651 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -1,12 +1,13 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+import codecs
 import re
 
 from setuptools import setup
 
-with open("README.rst", "r") as f:
+with codecs.open("README.rst", encoding="utf-8") as f:
     readme = f.read()
 
-with open("arrow/__init__.py", "r") as f:
+with codecs.open("arrow/__init__.py", encoding="utf-8") as f:
     init = f.read()