diff --git a/rakefiles/assets.rake b/rakefiles/assets.rake
index 009c87048c..4530ffe13b 100644
--- a/rakefiles/assets.rake
+++ b/rakefiles/assets.rake
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ def sass_cmd(watch=false, debug=false)
     "sass #{debug ? '--debug-info' : '--style compressed'} " +
           "--load-path #{sass_load_paths.join(' ')} " +
           "--require ./common/static/sass/bourbon/lib/bourbon.rb " +
-          "#{watch ? '--watch' : '--update'} #{sass_watch_paths.join(' ')}"
+          "#{watch ? '--watch' : '--update'} -E utf-8 #{sass_watch_paths.join(' ')}"
 end
 
 desc "Compile all assets"