diff --git a/install.php b/install.php
index 2b9f6fccd..da26b4657 100644
--- a/install.php
+++ b/install.php
@@ -1137,6 +1137,7 @@ class e_install
 \$mySQLpassword  = '{$this->previous_steps['mysql']['password']}';
 \$mySQLdefaultdb = '{$this->previous_steps['mysql']['db']}';
 \$mySQLprefix    = '{$this->previous_steps['mysql']['prefix']}';
+\$mySQLcharset   = 'utf8';
 
 \$ADMIN_DIRECTORY     = '{$this->e107->e107_dirs['ADMIN_DIRECTORY']}';
 \$FILES_DIRECTORY     = '{$this->e107->e107_dirs['FILES_DIRECTORY']}';