diff --git a/core/views/expo.py b/core/views/expo.py
index 5f4e2b3..07a8c5c 100644
--- a/core/views/expo.py
+++ b/core/views/expo.py
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ def expowebpage(request, expowebpath, path):
         return render(request, 'pagenotfound.html', {'path': path}, status="404")
         
     try:
-        with open(os.path.normpath(expowebpath / path), "r", encoding='utf-8') as o:   
+        with open(os.path.normpath(expowebpath / path).encode(sysdefaultencoding), "r", encoding='utf-8') as o:   
             html = o.read()
     except:
         # exception raised on debian with python 3.9.2 but not on WSL Ubuntu with python 3.9.5