diff --git a/data/config.default.php b/data/config.default.php
index 1b040c0..fdbdaee 100644
--- a/data/config.default.php
+++ b/data/config.default.php
@@ -180,6 +180,15 @@ $dbname = 'scuttle';
  */
 $tableprefix = 'sc_';
 
+/*
+ * If the database needs to be switched to UTF8
+ * manually or not. If true, a "SET NAMES UTF8" query
+ * will be sent at the beginning. If you need performance,
+ * save this query and set it in your mysql server options.
+ *
+ * @var boolean
+ */
+$dbneedssetnames = true;
 
 
 /***************************************************
diff --git a/doc/ChangeLog b/doc/ChangeLog
index c797f56..05757ac 100644
--- a/doc/ChangeLog
+++ b/doc/ChangeLog
@@ -1,10 +1,17 @@
 ChangeLog for SemantiScuttle
 ============================
 
+0.97.0 - 2010-?????
+-------------------
+- Many SQL optimizations
+- New config option to skip "SET NAMES UTF8" call: $dbneedssetnames
+
+
 0.96.1 - 2010-02-09
 -------------------
 - Fix bug #2948410: API is broken in 0.96.0
 
+
 0.96.0 - 2010-02-08
 -------------------
 - Fix bug #2843523: ArtViper thumbnail license change
diff --git a/src/SemanticScuttle/Service/Factory.php b/src/SemanticScuttle/Service/Factory.php
index 9b79e6c..d7ff1d4 100644
--- a/src/SemanticScuttle/Service/Factory.php
+++ b/src/SemanticScuttle/Service/Factory.php
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ class SemanticScuttle_Service_Factory
     protected static function loadDb()
     {
         global $dbhost, $dbuser, $dbpass, $dbname,
-            $dbport, $dbpersist, $dbtype;
+            $dbport, $dbpersist, $dbtype, $dbneedssetnames;
 
         if (self::$db !== null) {
             return;
@@ -130,7 +130,9 @@ class SemanticScuttle_Service_Factory
                 self::$db
             );
         }
-        $db->sql_query('SET NAMES UTF8');
+
+        $dbneedssetnames && $db->sql_query('SET NAMES UTF8');
+
         self::$db = $db;
     }