diff --git a/beets/util/m3u.py b/beets/util/m3u.py
index eca958941..d5a55a65f 100644
--- a/beets/util/m3u.py
+++ b/beets/util/m3u.py
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ class M3UFile():
 
     def load(self):
         """Reads the m3u file from disk and sets the object's attributes."""
-        with open(syspath(self.path), "r") as playlist_file:
+        with open(syspath(self.path), "r", encoding="utf-8") as playlist_file:
             raw_contents = playlist_file.readlines()
         self.extm3u = True if raw_contents[0] == "#EXTM3U\n" else False
         for line in raw_contents[1:]:
@@ -70,6 +70,6 @@ class M3UFile():
         if not self.media_list:
             raise EmptyPlaylistError
         contents = header + self.media_list
-        with open(syspath(self.path), "w") as playlist_file:
+        with open(syspath(self.path), "w", encoding="utf-8") as playlist_file:
             playlist_file.writelines('\n'.join(contents))
             playlist_file.write('\n')  # Final linefeed to prevent noeol file.