diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 6fda9d98b..655da839d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ require_once __DIR__ . '/config/bootstrap.php';
 
 // Get PDO object
 $pdo = new PDO(
-    'mysql:host=127.0.0.1;dbname=test;charset=utf8', 'root', '',
+    'mysql:host=127.0.0.1;dbname=test;charset=utf8mb4', 'root', '',
     array(
         PDO::ATTR_ERRMODE => PDO::ERRMODE_EXCEPTION,
         PDO::ATTR_PERSISTENT => false,