diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 14b634d9..2eb1a0be 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ Changelog
 
 ### 1.7 (December 22, 2013)
 
+* __1.7.22__ Fixed an issue with writing files when exporting entries containing non-ascii characters.
 * __1.7.21__ jrnl now uses PKCS#7 padding.
 * __1.7.20__ Minor fixes when parsing DayOne journals
 * __1.7.19__ Creates full path to journal during installation if it doesn't exist yet
diff --git a/jrnl/__init__.py b/jrnl/__init__.py
index eef08dc0..1e1dc0ec 100644
--- a/jrnl/__init__.py
+++ b/jrnl/__init__.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ jrnl is a simple journal application for your command line.
 from __future__ import absolute_import
 
 __title__ = 'jrnl'
-__version__ = '1.7.21'
+__version__ = '1.7.22'
 __author__ = 'Manuel Ebert'
 __license__ = 'MIT License'
 __copyright__ = 'Copyright 2013 - 2014 Manuel Ebert'
diff --git a/jrnl/exporters.py b/jrnl/exporters.py
index b8463e03..83499f87 100644
--- a/jrnl/exporters.py
+++ b/jrnl/exporters.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ from __future__ import absolute_import
 import os
 import json
 from .util import u, slugify
+import codecs
 
 
 def get_tags_count(journal):
@@ -81,7 +82,7 @@ def export(journal, format, output=None):
         content = maps[format](journal)
         if output:
             try:
-                with open(output, 'w') as f:
+                with codecs.open(output, "w", "utf-8") as f:
                     f.write(content)
                 return "[Journal exported to {0}]".format(output)
             except IOError as e:
@@ -101,6 +102,6 @@ def write_files(journal, path, format):
             content = e.to_md()
         elif format == 'txt':
             content = u(e)
-        with open(full_path, 'w') as f:
+        with codecs.open(full_path, "w", "utf-8") as f:
             f.write(content)
     return "[Journal exported individual files in {0}]".format(path)