diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index c539596..1a83b2e 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -8,4 +8,6 @@ python:
   - "3.6"
   - "pypy"  # PyPy2 2.5.0
   - "pypy3" # Pypy3 2.4.0
-script: python -m tests
+script:
+  - pip install -r nearley-requirements.txt
+  - python -m tests
diff --git a/tests/test_parser.py b/tests/test_parser.py
index 3799fce..fc66936 100644
--- a/tests/test_parser.py
+++ b/tests/test_parser.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 from __future__ import absolute_import
 
 import unittest
@@ -875,6 +876,22 @@ def _make_parser_test(LEXER, PARSER):
             self.assertEqual(''.join(child.data for child in res.children), 'indirection')
 
 
+        def test_utf8(self):
+            g = u"""start: a
+                   a: "±a"
+                """
+            l = _Lark(g)
+            self.assertEqual(l.parse(u'±a'), Tree('start', [Tree('a', [])]))
+
+            g = u"""start: A
+                   A: "±a"
+                """
+            l = _Lark(g)
+            self.assertEqual(l.parse(u'±a'), Tree('start', [u'\xb1a']))
+
+
+
+
     _NAME = "Test" + PARSER.capitalize() + (LEXER or 'Scanless').capitalize()
     _TestParser.__name__ = _NAME
     globals()[_NAME] = _TestParser