diff --git a/pinaxcon/settings.py b/pinaxcon/settings.py
index 8d16bc2e..1f12fc83 100644
--- a/pinaxcon/settings.py
+++ b/pinaxcon/settings.py
@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@ else:
 
 DATABASES = {}
 DATABASES['default'] = dj_database_url.config(conn_max_age=600)
+if DATABASES['default']['ENGINE'] == 'django.db.backends.mysql':
+    DATABASES['default']['OPTIONS'] = {'charset': 'utf8mb4'}
 
 EMAIL_BACKEND = 'django.core.mail.backends.smtp.EmailBackend'
 EMAIL_HOST = os.environ.get('EMAIL_HOST', None)