diff --git a/abot.py b/abot.py
index 73b9fab..68c13af 100644
--- a/abot.py
+++ b/abot.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import sqlite3
 
 
 DATABASE = os.getenv('DATABASE', 'abot.sqlite') # database file
-DEBUG = False
+DEBUG = True
 QUESTIONS = os.getenv('QUESTIONS', 'questions') # path to questions
 GIT_COMMIT = os.getenv('GIT_COMMIT', False)
 
diff --git a/utils.py b/utils.py
index c7fe1d0..4aca53d 100644
--- a/utils.py
+++ b/utils.py
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ def parse_form(key):
     key = secure_filename(key)
     try:
         current_question = 0
-        with open(os.path.join(app.config['QUESTIONS'], key + ".txt"), "rt") as fp:
+        with open(os.path.join(app.config['QUESTIONS'], key + ".txt"), "rt", encoding = "UTF-8") as fp:
             for row in fp:
                 if row.strip() == "":
                     continue