diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index e74467c..27ec868 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -22,4 +22,5 @@ uv.lock
 # Distribution directories
 *.dist-info/
 
-pypi_publishing_notes.md
\ No newline at end of file
+pypi_publishing_notes.md
+.qodo
diff --git a/src/mysql_mcp_server/server.py b/src/mysql_mcp_server/server.py
index dc8d87e..813e10a 100644
--- a/src/mysql_mcp_server/server.py
+++ b/src/mysql_mcp_server/server.py
@@ -21,7 +21,10 @@ def get_db_config():
         "port": int(os.getenv("MYSQL_PORT", "3306")),
         "user": os.getenv("MYSQL_USER"),
         "password": os.getenv("MYSQL_PASSWORD"),
-        "database": os.getenv("MYSQL_DATABASE")
+        "database": os.getenv("MYSQL_DATABASE"),
+        "charset": "utf8mb4",
+        "use_unicode": True,
+        "collation": "utf8mb4_general_ci"
     }
     
     if not all([config["user"], config["password"], config["database"]]):