diff --git a/openlp/plugins/presentations/lib/presentationcontroller.py b/openlp/plugins/presentations/lib/presentationcontroller.py
index 926971924..e12923f51 100644
--- a/openlp/plugins/presentations/lib/presentationcontroller.py
+++ b/openlp/plugins/presentations/lib/presentationcontroller.py
@@ -331,12 +331,12 @@ class PresentationDocument(object):
         """
         if titles:
             titles_file = os.path.join(self.get_thumbnail_folder(), 'titles.txt')
-            with open(titles_file, mode='w') as fo:
+            with open(titles_file, mode='wt', encoding='utf-8') as fo:
                 fo.writelines(titles)
         if notes:
             for slide_no, note in enumerate(notes, 1):
                 notes_file = os.path.join(self.get_thumbnail_folder(), 'slideNotes%d.txt' % slide_no)
-                with open(notes_file, mode='w') as fn:
+                with open(notes_file, mode='wt', encoding='utf-8') as fn:
                     fn.write(note)