diff --git a/feathr_project/setup.py b/feathr_project/setup.py
index 79a3c3190..e937f19c4 100644
--- a/feathr_project/setup.py
+++ b/feathr_project/setup.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 
 # Use the README.md from /docs
 root_path = Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent
-long_description = (root_path / "docs/README.md").read_text()
+long_description = (root_path / "docs/README.md").read_text(encoding="utf8")
 
 setup(
     name='feathr',