diff --git a/CHANGELOG b/CHANGELOG
index d733c0273..6da081ab1 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG
+++ b/CHANGELOG
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ Version 1.4.0
     * fixed possible crash in saving page screen of a really long page
     * fixed showing window in fullscreen with XFCE
     * X11: fixed Ctrl+Q shortcut for DEs other than KDE and Gnome
+    * windows: fixed downloading utf-8 encoded adblock subscriptions
     * windows: improved installer allows registering as default web browser
     * windows: check and set as default browser from preferences
     * mac: fixed not working global menu after closing browser window
diff --git a/src/lib/adblock/adblockmanager.cpp b/src/lib/adblock/adblockmanager.cpp
index 4a88c8065..92b8ed157 100644
--- a/src/lib/adblock/adblockmanager.cpp
+++ b/src/lib/adblock/adblockmanager.cpp
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 /* ============================================================
 * QupZilla - WebKit based browser
-* Copyright (C) 2010-2012  David Rosca <nowrep@gmail.com>
+* Copyright (C) 2010-2013  David Rosca <nowrep@gmail.com>
 *
 * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
 * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
@@ -213,6 +213,7 @@ void AdBlockManager::load()
         }
 
         QTextStream textStream(&file);
+        textStream.setCodec("UTF-8");
         QString title = textStream.readLine(1024).remove(QLatin1String("Title: "));
         QUrl url = QUrl(textStream.readLine(1024).remove(QLatin1String("Url: ")));
 
diff --git a/src/lib/adblock/adblocksubscription.cpp b/src/lib/adblock/adblocksubscription.cpp
index a6f5a49ff..ae1261e9a 100644
--- a/src/lib/adblock/adblocksubscription.cpp
+++ b/src/lib/adblock/adblocksubscription.cpp
@@ -103,6 +103,7 @@ void AdBlockSubscription::loadSubscription(const QStringList &disabledRules)
     }
 
     QTextStream textStream(&file);
+    textStream.setCodec("UTF-8");
     // Header is on 3rd line
     textStream.readLine(1024);
     textStream.readLine(1024);
@@ -422,6 +423,7 @@ void AdBlockCustomList::saveSubscription()
     }
 
     QTextStream textStream(&file);
+    textStream.setCodec("UTF-8");
     textStream << "Title: " << title() << endl;
     textStream << "Url: " << url().toString() << endl;
     textStream << "[Adblock Plus 1.1.1]" << endl;
diff --git a/src/lib/network/schemehandlers/ftpschemehandler.cpp b/src/lib/network/schemehandlers/ftpschemehandler.cpp
index 528fa8212..15e7834db 100644
--- a/src/lib/network/schemehandlers/ftpschemehandler.cpp
+++ b/src/lib/network/schemehandlers/ftpschemehandler.cpp
@@ -166,6 +166,7 @@ void FtpSchemeReply::processData()
 {
     open(ReadOnly | Unbuffered);
     QTextStream stream(&m_buffer);
+    stream.setCodec("UTF-8");
 
     stream << m_ftp->readAll();
 
diff --git a/src/lib/plugins/qtwebkit/spellcheck/spellcheckdialog.cpp b/src/lib/plugins/qtwebkit/spellcheck/spellcheckdialog.cpp
index 1a5dc81f5..2e8e8ace0 100644
--- a/src/lib/plugins/qtwebkit/spellcheck/spellcheckdialog.cpp
+++ b/src/lib/plugins/qtwebkit/spellcheck/spellcheckdialog.cpp
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ SpellCheckDialog::SpellCheckDialog(QWidget* parent)
     else {
         QString word;
         QTextStream stream(&file);
+        stream.setCodec("UTF-8");
 
         while (!stream.atEnd()) {
             stream >> word;
@@ -120,6 +121,7 @@ void SpellCheckDialog::saveSettings()
     }
 
     QTextStream stream(&file);
+    stream.setCodec("UTF-8");
     int count = ui->userDictList->count();
 
     for (int i = 0; i < count; ++i) {
diff --git a/src/lib/plugins/qtwebkit/spellcheck/speller.cpp b/src/lib/plugins/qtwebkit/spellcheck/speller.cpp
index 2c63e772a..7dda8d0c0 100644
--- a/src/lib/plugins/qtwebkit/spellcheck/speller.cpp
+++ b/src/lib/plugins/qtwebkit/spellcheck/speller.cpp
@@ -99,6 +99,7 @@ void Speller::initialize()
         else {
             QString word;
             QTextStream stream(&m_userDictionary);
+            stream.setCodec("UTF-8");
             while (!stream.atEnd()) {
                 stream >> word;
                 putWord(word);
@@ -204,6 +205,7 @@ void Speller::addToDictionary()
         }
 
         QTextStream stream(&m_userDictionary);
+        stream.setCodec("UTF-8");
         stream << word << endl;
         m_userDictionary.close();
     }