diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index b4812dfeb..d218099f1 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -12,7 +12,8 @@ setup(
     author_email="hello@lbry.io",
     url="https://lbry.io",
     description="A decentralized media library and marketplace",
-    long_description=open(README_PATH).read(),
+    long_description=open(README_PATH, encoding='utf-8').read(),
+    long_description_content_type="text/markdown",
     keywords="lbry protocol media",
     license='MIT',
     python_requires='>=3.6',