diff --git a/my/kython/kompress.py b/my/kython/kompress.py
index f958cf4..3077e71 100644
--- a/my/kython/kompress.py
+++ b/my/kython/kompress.py
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ def kopen(path: PathIsh, *args, **kwargs): # TODO is it bytes stream??
     elif suf in {'.zstd'}:
         return _zstd_open(pp)
     else:
+        kwargs['encoding'] = 'utf-8'
         return pp.open(*args, **kwargs)