diff --git a/installer.cfg b/installer.cfg
index 77e75eb..cd324db 100644
--- a/installer.cfg
+++ b/installer.cfg
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ password =
 [mysql]
 user = root
 password = password
+charset = utf8
+collation = utf8_general_ci
 
 [modoboa]
 user = modoboa
diff --git a/modoboa_installer/database.py b/modoboa_installer/database.py
index 3ce77c9..6b592dc 100644
--- a/modoboa_installer/database.py
+++ b/modoboa_installer/database.py
@@ -159,7 +159,12 @@ class MySQL(Database):
     def create_database(self, name, owner):
         """Create a database."""
         self._exec_query(
-            "CREATE DATABASE IF NOT EXISTS {}".format(name))
+            "CREATE DATABASE IF NOT EXISTS {} "
+            "DEFAULT CHARACTER SET {} "
+            "DEFAULT COLLATE {}".format(
+                name, self.config.get("mysql", "charset"),
+                self.config.get("mysql", "collation"))
+        )
         self.grant_access(name, owner)
 
     def grant_access(self, dbname, user):