diff --git a/lib/secretariat/invoice.rb b/lib/secretariat/invoice.rb
index 2aa1047..d94d8ff 100644
--- a/lib/secretariat/invoice.rb
+++ b/lib/secretariat/invoice.rb
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ def to_xml(version: 1, validate: true)
         raise ValidationError.new("Invoice is invalid", errors)
       end
 
-      builder = Nokogiri::XML::Builder.new do |xml|
+      builder = Nokogiri::XML::Builder.new(encoding: "UTF-8") do |xml|
 
         root = by_version(version, 'CrossIndustryDocument', 'CrossIndustryInvoice')