diff --git a/docker/mariadb/env b/docker/mariadb/env
index bbb3301af..8c8a01fd3 100644
--- a/docker/mariadb/env
+++ b/docker/mariadb/env
@@ -6,3 +6,4 @@ DATABASE_PORT=3306
 DATABASE_NAME=wallabag
 DATABASE_USER=root
 DATABASE_PASSWORD=wallaroot
+DATABASE_CHARSET=utf8mb4