diff --git a/helpers/postgresql.py b/helpers/postgresql.py
index 6bcac842..0035628f 100644
--- a/helpers/postgresql.py
+++ b/helpers/postgresql.py
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ class Postgresql:
         return not os.path.exists(self.data_dir) or os.listdir(self.data_dir) == []
 
     def initialize(self):
-        if os.system(self._pg_ctl + ' initdb') == 0:
+        if os.system(self._pg_ctl + ' initdb --encoding=UTF8') == 0:
             self.write_pg_hba()
 
             return True