diff --git a/gemd/__version__.py b/gemd/__version__.py
index e2f88eea..4dc204e4 100644
--- a/gemd/__version__.py
+++ b/gemd/__version__.py
@@ -1 +1 @@
-__version__ = "1.18.4"
+__version__ = "1.18.5"
diff --git a/gemd/units/impl.py b/gemd/units/impl.py
index 78b38c0b..94a2c011 100644
--- a/gemd/units/impl.py
+++ b/gemd/units/impl.py
@@ -30,10 +30,10 @@
 def _deploy_default_files() -> str:
     """Copy the units & constants file into a temporary directory."""
     units_path = Path(_TEMP_DIRECTORY.name) / "citrine_en.txt"
-    units_path.write_text(read_text("gemd.units", "citrine_en.txt"))
+    units_path.write_text(read_text("gemd.units", "citrine_en.txt"), encoding="utf-8")
 
     constants_path = Path(_TEMP_DIRECTORY.name) / "constants_en.txt"
-    constants_path.write_text(read_text("gemd.units", "constants_en.txt"))
+    constants_path.write_text(read_text("gemd.units", "constants_en.txt"), encoding="utf-8")
 
     return str(units_path)