diff --git a/contrib/per-workspace-layout.pl b/contrib/per-workspace-layout.pl
index 48590456..4a2b4b9e 100644
--- a/contrib/per-workspace-layout.pl
+++ b/contrib/per-workspace-layout.pl
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ use warnings;
 use AnyEvent;
 use AnyEvent::I3;
 use v5.10;
+use utf8;
 
 my %layouts = (
     '4' => 'tabbed',