diff --git a/whisper/transcribe.py b/whisper/transcribe.py
index a795f73be..0ee42a8fb 100644
--- a/whisper/transcribe.py
+++ b/whisper/transcribe.py
@@ -289,11 +289,11 @@ def cli():
         audio_basename = os.path.basename(audio_path)
 
         # save TXT
-        with open(os.path.join(output_dir, audio_basename + ".txt"), "w") as txt:
+        with open(os.path.join(output_dir, audio_basename + ".txt"), "w", encoding="utf-8") as txt:
             print(result["text"], file=txt)
 
         # save VTT
-        with open(os.path.join(output_dir, audio_basename + ".vtt"), "w") as vtt:
+        with open(os.path.join(output_dir, audio_basename + ".vtt"), "w", encoding="utf-8") as vtt:
             write_vtt(result["segments"], file=vtt)