diff --git a/TerminalParser_LinuxPrefs.m b/TerminalParser_LinuxPrefs.m
index aa43669..aa21ee5 100644
--- a/TerminalParser_LinuxPrefs.m
+++ b/TerminalParser_LinuxPrefs.m
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ +(void) initialize
 
 		characterSet=[[ud stringForKey: CharacterSetKey] retain];
 		if (!characterSet)
-			characterSet=@"iso-8859-1";
+			characterSet=@"utf-8";
 	}
 }