diff --git a/lib/errorlogger.cpp b/lib/errorlogger.cpp
index 0bb9cbc98..387603d8f 100644
--- a/lib/errorlogger.cpp
+++ b/lib/errorlogger.cpp
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ std::string ErrorLogger::ErrorMessage::getXMLHeader(int xml_version)
 
     // standard xml header
     std::ostringstream ostr;
-    ostr << "<?xml version=\"1.0\"?>\n";
+    ostr << "<?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\"?>\n";
 
     // version 1 header
     if (xml_version <= 1)
diff --git a/test/testerrorlogger.cpp b/test/testerrorlogger.cpp
index e716602a5..9e4962e1d 100644
--- a/test/testerrorlogger.cpp
+++ b/test/testerrorlogger.cpp
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ private:
         std::list<ErrorLogger::ErrorMessage::FileLocation> locs;
         locs.push_back(loc);
         ErrorMessage msg(locs, Severity::error, "Programming error.\nVerbose error", "errorId");
-        ASSERT_EQUALS("<?xml version=\"1.0\"?>\n<results>", ErrorLogger::ErrorMessage::getXMLHeader(1));
+        ASSERT_EQUALS("<?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\"?>\n<results>", ErrorLogger::ErrorMessage::getXMLHeader(1));
         ASSERT_EQUALS("</results>", ErrorLogger::ErrorMessage::getXMLFooter(1));
         ASSERT_EQUALS("<error file=\"foo.cpp\" line=\"5\" id=\"errorId\" severity=\"error\" msg=\"Programming error.\"/>", msg.toXML(false,1));
     }
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ private:
         std::list<ErrorLogger::ErrorMessage::FileLocation> locs;
         locs.push_back(loc);
         ErrorMessage msg(locs, Severity::error, "Programming error.\nVerbose error", "errorId");
-        ASSERT_EQUALS("<?xml version=\"1.0\"?>\n<results>", ErrorLogger::ErrorMessage::getXMLHeader(1));
+        ASSERT_EQUALS("<?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\"?>\n<results>", ErrorLogger::ErrorMessage::getXMLHeader(1));
         ASSERT_EQUALS("</results>", ErrorLogger::ErrorMessage::getXMLFooter(1));
         ASSERT_EQUALS("<error file=\"foo.cpp\" line=\"5\" id=\"errorId\" severity=\"error\" msg=\"Verbose error\"/>", msg.toXML(true,1));
     }
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ private:
         std::list<ErrorLogger::ErrorMessage::FileLocation> locs;
         locs.push_back(loc);
         ErrorMessage msg(locs, Severity::error, "Programming error.\nVerbose error", "errorId");
-        std::string header("<?xml version=\"1.0\"?>\n<results version=\"2\">\n");
+        std::string header("<?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\"?>\n<results version=\"2\">\n");
         header += "  <cppcheck version=\"";
         header += CppCheck::version();
         header += "\"/>\n  <errors>";