diff --git a/phplib/Persistence.php b/phplib/Persistence.php
index ab97342..8b8fff4 100644
--- a/phplib/Persistence.php
+++ b/phplib/Persistence.php
@@ -440,7 +440,7 @@ static function get_database_object() {
         $user = $config['database']['username'];
         $pass = $config['database']['password'];
         try {
-            $conn = new PDO('mysql:host='.$host.';port='.$port.';dbname='.$adb, $user, $pass);
+            $conn = new PDO('mysql:host='.$host.';port='.$port.';dbname='.$adb.';charset=utf8mb4', $user, $pass);
             $conn->setAttribute(PDO::ATTR_ERRMODE, PDO::ERRMODE_EXCEPTION);
             return $conn;
         } catch(PDOException $e) {