diff --git a/src/DatabaseManager/DatabaseManager.php b/src/DatabaseManager/DatabaseManager.php
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/src/DatabaseManager/DatabaseManager.php
+++ b/src/DatabaseManager/DatabaseManager.php
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ class DatabaseManager
             'password' => $connectionconfig->getPassword(),
             'host' => $connectionconfig->getHost(),
             'driver' => 'pdo_mysql',
+            'charset' => 'utf8'
         );
         
         $conn = \Doctrine\DBAL\DriverManager::getConnection($connectionParams, $dbalconfig);
Assume utf8 charset on dbal connections