diff --git a/services/servicefactory.php b/services/servicefactory.php
index 73e5626..b5215e3 100644
--- a/services/servicefactory.php
+++ b/services/servicefactory.php
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ class ServiceFactory {
 			if(!$db->db_connect_id) {
 				message_die(CRITICAL_ERROR, "Could not connect to the database", $db);
 			}
+			$db->sql_query("SET NAMES UTF8"); 
 		}		
 		
 		if (!isset($instances[$name])) {