diff --git a/share/rpcauth/rpcauth.py b/share/rpcauth/rpcauth.py
index 49f7efc9f9..1a6c8cc901 100755
--- a/share/rpcauth/rpcauth.py
+++ b/share/rpcauth/rpcauth.py
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ def main():
     rpcauth = f'{args.username}:{salt}${password_hmac}'
 
     if args.output:
-        file = open(args.output, "x")
+        file = open(args.output, "x", encoding="utf8")
         file.write(rpcauth)
 
     if args.json: