diff --git a/app/src/persistence/mysql.js b/app/src/persistence/mysql.js
index 394f71e..1a8360a 100644
--- a/app/src/persistence/mysql.js
+++ b/app/src/persistence/mysql.js
@@ -29,11 +29,12 @@ async function init() {
         user,
         password,
         database,
+        charset: 'utf8mb4',
     });
 
     return new Promise((acc, rej) => {
         pool.query(
-            'CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS todo_items (id varchar(36), name varchar(255), completed boolean)',
+            'CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS todo_items (id varchar(36), name varchar(255), completed boolean) DEFAULT CHARSET utf8mb4',
             err => {
                 if (err) return rej(err);