diff --git a/src/dwarfs/error.cpp b/src/dwarfs/error.cpp
index 4f843ca6..32f671d3 100644
--- a/src/dwarfs/error.cpp
+++ b/src/dwarfs/error.cpp
@@ -84,8 +84,13 @@ int safe_main(std::function<int(void)> fn) {
 #ifndef _WIN32
     folly::symbolizer::installFatalSignalHandler();
 #endif
-    std::locale::global(std::locale(""));
-    std::setlocale(LC_ALL, "");
+#ifdef _WIN32
+    char const* locale = "en_US.utf8";
+#else
+    char const* locale = "";
+#endif
+    std::locale::global(std::locale(locale));
+    std::setlocale(LC_ALL, locale);
 
     setup_terminal();