diff --git a/test/check_metadata.py b/test/check_metadata.py
index be759e99..b6b82042 100644
--- a/test/check_metadata.py
+++ b/test/check_metadata.py
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ def check_element(field, element, props, metafile):
 for directory in glob.iglob('crypto_*/*/'):
     metafile = os.path.join(directory, 'META.yml')
     try:
-        with open(metafile) as f:
+        with open(metafile, encoding='utf-8') as f:
             metadata = yaml.load(f.read())
     except Exception as e:
         eprint("Can't open {}: {}".format(metafile, e))
diff --git a/test/check_testvectors.py b/test/check_testvectors.py
index 425a0aad..54dedb61 100644
--- a/test/check_testvectors.py
+++ b/test/check_testvectors.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ SCHEMESHORT = SCHEME.split('/')[1].upper()
 
 
 def get_hash(scheme):
-    with open("{}/META.yml".format(scheme), 'r') as stream:
+    with open("{}/META.yml".format(scheme), 'r', encoding='utf-8') as stream:
         meta = yaml.load(stream)
         return meta['testvectors-sha256']