diff --git a/tests-unit/utils/extra_config_test.py b/tests-unit/utils/extra_config_test.py
index b23f5bd0..6d232079 100644
--- a/tests-unit/utils/extra_config_test.py
+++ b/tests-unit/utils/extra_config_test.py
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ def test_load_extra_model_paths_expands_userpath(
     mock_yaml_safe_load.assert_called_once()
 
     # Check if open was called with the correct file path
-    mock_file.assert_called_once_with(dummy_yaml_file_name, 'r')
+    mock_file.assert_called_once_with(dummy_yaml_file_name, 'r', encoding='utf-8')
 
 
 @patch('builtins.open', new_callable=mock_open)
diff --git a/utils/extra_config.py b/utils/extra_config.py
index d7b59285..b7196e36 100644
--- a/utils/extra_config.py
+++ b/utils/extra_config.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import folder_paths
 import logging
 
 def load_extra_path_config(yaml_path):
-    with open(yaml_path, 'r') as stream:
+    with open(yaml_path, 'r', encoding='utf-8') as stream:
         config = yaml.safe_load(stream)
     yaml_dir = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(yaml_path))
     for c in config: