diff --git a/sticker/lib/util.py b/sticker/lib/util.py
index 240e8ea..2d58c82 100644
--- a/sticker/lib/util.py
+++ b/sticker/lib/util.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 #
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
 # along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+from functools import partial
 from io import BytesIO
 import os.path
 import json
@@ -21,6 +22,7 @@ from PIL import Image
 
 from . import matrix
 
+open_utf8 = partial(open, encoding='UTF-8')
 
 def convert_image(data: bytes) -> (bytes, int, int):
     image: Image.Image = Image.open(BytesIO(data)).convert("RGBA")
@@ -41,7 +43,7 @@ def convert_image(data: bytes) -> (bytes, int, int):
 def add_to_index(name: str, output_dir: str) -> None:
     index_path = os.path.join(output_dir, "index.json")
     try:
-        with open(index_path) as index_file:
+        with open_utf8(index_path) as index_file:
             index_data = json.load(index_file)
     except (FileNotFoundError, json.JSONDecodeError):
         index_data = {"packs": []}
@@ -49,7 +51,7 @@ def add_to_index(name: str, output_dir: str) -> None:
         index_data["homeserver_url"] = matrix.homeserver_url
     if name not in index_data["packs"]:
         index_data["packs"].append(name)
-        with open(index_path, "w") as index_file:
+        with open_utf8(index_path, "w") as index_file:
             json.dump(index_data, index_file, indent="  ")
         print(f"Added {name} to {index_path}")
 
diff --git a/sticker/pack.py b/sticker/pack.py
index e611b73..f082370 100644
--- a/sticker/pack.py
+++ b/sticker/pack.py
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ async def main(args: argparse.Namespace) -> None:
     dirname = os.path.basename(os.path.abspath(args.path))
     meta_path = os.path.join(args.path, "pack.json")
     try:
-        with open(meta_path) as pack_file:
+        with util.open_utf8(meta_path) as pack_file:
             pack = json.load(pack_file)
             print(f"Loaded existing pack meta from {meta_path}")
     except FileNotFoundError:
@@ -112,14 +112,14 @@ async def main(args: argparse.Namespace) -> None:
         if sticker:
             pack["stickers"].append(sticker)
 
-    with open(meta_path, "w") as pack_file:
+    with util.open_utf8(meta_path, "w") as pack_file:
         json.dump(pack, pack_file)
     print(f"Wrote pack to {meta_path}")
 
     if args.add_to_index:
         picker_file_name = f"{pack['id']}.json"
         picker_pack_path = os.path.join(args.add_to_index, picker_file_name)
-        with open(picker_pack_path, "w") as pack_file:
+        with util.open_utf8(picker_pack_path, "w") as pack_file:
             json.dump(pack, pack_file)
         print(f"Copied pack to {picker_pack_path}")
         util.add_to_index(picker_file_name, args.add_to_index)
diff --git a/sticker/scalar_convert.py b/sticker/scalar_convert.py
index 69f7220..76a0101 100644
--- a/sticker/scalar_convert.py
+++ b/sticker/scalar_convert.py
@@ -19,12 +19,12 @@ import json
 index_path = "../web/packs/index.json"
 
 try:
-    with open(index_path) as index_file:
+    with util.open_utf8(index_path) as index_file:
         index_data = json.load(index_file)
 except (FileNotFoundError, json.JSONDecodeError):
     index_data = {"packs": []}
 
-with open(sys.argv[-1]) as file:
+with util.open_utf8(sys.argv[-1]) as file:
     data = json.load(file)
 
 for pack in data["assets"]:
@@ -45,12 +45,12 @@ for pack in data["assets"]:
     }
     filename = f"scalar-{pack['name'].replace(' ', '_')}.json"
     pack_path = f"web/packs/{filename}"
-    with open(pack_path, "w") as pack_file:
+    with util.open_utf8(pack_path, "w") as pack_file:
         json.dump(pack_data, pack_file)
     print(f"Wrote {title} to {pack_path}")
     if filename not in index_data["packs"]:
         index_data["packs"].append(filename)
 
-with open(index_path, "w") as index_file:
+with util.open_utf8(index_path, "w") as index_file:
     json.dump(index_data, index_file, indent="  ")
 print(f"Updated {index_path}")
diff --git a/sticker/stickerimport.py b/sticker/stickerimport.py
index 6846184..c852e78 100644
--- a/sticker/stickerimport.py
+++ b/sticker/stickerimport.py
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ async def reupload_pack(client: TelegramClient, pack: StickerSetFull, output_dir
 
     already_uploaded = {}
     try:
-        with open(pack_path) as pack_file:
+        with util.open_utf8(pack_path) as pack_file:
             existing_pack = json.load(pack_file)
             already_uploaded = {int(sticker["net.maunium.telegram.sticker"]["id"]): sticker
                                 for sticker in existing_pack["stickers"]}
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ async def reupload_pack(client: TelegramClient, pack: StickerSetFull, output_dir
                 doc["body"] = sticker.emoticon
             doc["net.maunium.telegram.sticker"]["emoticons"].append(sticker.emoticon)
 
-    with open(pack_path, "w") as pack_file:
+    with util.open_utf8(pack_path, "w") as pack_file:
         json.dump({
             "title": pack.set.title,
             "id": f"tg-{pack.set.id}",