diff --git a/solara/__main__.py b/solara/__main__.py
index da34c1b34..347f223e7 100644
--- a/solara/__main__.py
+++ b/solara/__main__.py
@@ -653,7 +653,7 @@ def markdown(target: typing.Optional[Path] = None):
 
 
 def write_script(name: str, target: typing.Optional[Path]):
-    code = (HERE / "template" / f"{name}.py").read_text()
+    code = (HERE / "template" / f"{name}.py").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
     if target is None:
         target = Path("sol.py")
     else:
diff --git a/solara/autorouting.py b/solara/autorouting.py
index 292037787..c8d6b5ea4 100644
--- a/solara/autorouting.py
+++ b/solara/autorouting.py
@@ -215,11 +215,9 @@ def get_args(f):
                         solara.Button(
                             icon_name="mdi-pencil", icon=True, href=url, target="_blank", style={"position": "absolute", "top": "0px", "right": "0px"}
                         )
-                    # solara.Markdown(path.read_text(), unsafe_solara_execute=True)
-                    component(path.read_text(), unsafe_solara_execute=True)
+                    component(path.read_text(encoding="utf-8"), unsafe_solara_execute=True)
             else:
-                # content = solara.Markdown(path.read_text(), unsafe_solara_execute=True)
-                content = component(path.read_text(), unsafe_solara_execute=True)
+                content = component(path.read_text(encoding="utf-8"), unsafe_solara_execute=True)
 
             main = solara.Div(
                 classes=["solara-autorouter-content"],
diff --git a/solara/components/style.py b/solara/components/style.py
index 9039e7525..60b43ad78 100644
--- a/solara/components/style.py
+++ b/solara/components/style.py
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ async def watch():
                 try:
                     async for _ in watchfiles.awatch(value):
                         print(value, "changed, reloading css")  # noqa
-                        set_css_content_reloaded(cast(Path, value).read_text())
+                        set_css_content_reloaded(cast(Path, value).read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
                 except RuntimeError:
                     pass  # swallow the RuntimeError: Already borrowed errors from watchfiles
                 except Exception:
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ async def watch():
     if css_content_reloaded is not None:
         css_content = css_content_reloaded
     else:
-        css_content = value.read_text() if isinstance(value, Path) else value
+        css_content = value.read_text(encoding="utf-8") if isinstance(value, Path) else value
     # del value
     hash = hashlib.sha256(css_content.encode("utf-8")).hexdigest()
     # the key is unique for this component + value
diff --git a/solara/server/app.py b/solara/server/app.py
index 59f37363b..3dc454246 100644
--- a/solara/server/app.py
+++ b/solara/server/app.py
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ def on_file_change(self, name):
         path = Path(name)
         if path.suffix == ".vue":
             logger.info("Vue file changed: %s", name)
-            template_content = path.read_text()
+            template_content = path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
             for context in list(kernel_context.contexts.values()):
                 with context:
                     for filepath, widget in context.templates.items():