diff --git a/strix/skills/__init__.py b/strix/skills/__init__.py
index c3ac3911..c9cdf031 100644
--- a/strix/skills/__init__.py
+++ b/strix/skills/__init__.py
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ def load_skills(skill_names: list[str]) -> dict[str, str]:
             if skill_path and (skills_dir / skill_path).exists():
                 full_path = skills_dir / skill_path
                 var_name = skill_name.split("/")[-1]
-                content = full_path.read_text()
+                content = full_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
                 content = _FRONTMATTER_PATTERN.sub("", content).lstrip()
                 skill_content[var_name] = content
                 logger.info(f"Loaded skill: {skill_name} -> {var_name}")
diff --git a/strix/tools/registry.py b/strix/tools/registry.py
index ac6e15fa..7313bc33 100644
--- a/strix/tools/registry.py
+++ b/strix/tools/registry.py
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ def _load_xml_schema(path: Path) -> Any:
     if not path.exists():
         return None
     try:
-        content = path.read_text()
+        content = path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
 
         content = _process_dynamic_content(content)