diff --git a/xenia-build b/xenia-build
index 439210dcf..c4f969b3a 100755
--- a/xenia-build
+++ b/xenia-build
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ def import_vs_environment():
     install_path = None
     env_tool_args = None
 
-    vswhere = subprocess.check_output('third_party/vswhere/vswhere.exe -version "[15,)" -latest -format json', shell=False, universal_newlines=True)
+    vswhere = subprocess.check_output('third_party/vswhere/vswhere.exe -version "[15,)" -latest -format json -utf8', shell=False, universal_newlines=True)
     if vswhere:
         vswhere = json.loads(vswhere)
     if vswhere and len(vswhere) > 0: