diff --git a/src/database/tables.js b/src/database/tables.js
index cc389dca..dee036bf 100644
--- a/src/database/tables.js
+++ b/src/database/tables.js
@@ -147,6 +147,7 @@ export async function initTables() {
         // The types of id and type are chosen for compatibility
         // with the existing channel_libraries table.
         // TODO in the future schema, revisit the ID layout for different media types.
+        t.charset('utf8');
         t.string('id', 255).notNullable();
         t.string('type', 2).notNullable();
         t.text('metadata').notNullable();