diff --git a/pyjeeves/db.py b/pyjeeves/db.py
index 840d3c5..f95618d 100644
--- a/pyjeeves/db.py
+++ b/pyjeeves/db.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ class MySQLSession(Session):
     """docstring for MySQLSession"""
     def __init__(self, settings):
         self.engine = create_engine(
-            'mysql+pymysql://{user}:{passwd}@{host}:{port}/{db}'.format(**settings))
+            'mysql+pymysql://{user}:{passwd}@{host}:{port}/{db}?charset=utf8mb4'.format(**settings))
         super(MySQLSession, self).__init__(bind=self.engine)
 
     def create_db(self):