diff --git a/screenless/bureau/ihr/ihrweb.py b/screenless/bureau/ihr/ihrweb.py
index a40b52c..7adbf57 100644
--- a/screenless/bureau/ihr/ihrweb.py
+++ b/screenless/bureau/ihr/ihrweb.py
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ class IhrApp(Bottle):
         # parse the config and make it into a form
         # TODO: add a little html snippet with cfg file docs
         templfile = os.path.join(self.tdir, "web_config.html")
-        template = mako.template.Template(filename=templfile)
+        template = mako.template.Template(filename=templfile, input_encoding='utf-8')
         basedir = os.path.expanduser("~/.screenless")
 
         msg = ""