diff --git a/lark/load_grammar.py b/lark/load_grammar.py
index a65ca1e..bb8fc2f 100644
--- a/lark/load_grammar.py
+++ b/lark/load_grammar.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import os.path
 import sys
 from ast import literal_eval
 from copy import copy, deepcopy
+from io import open
 
 from .utils import bfs
 from .lexer import Token, TerminalDef, PatternStr, PatternRE
@@ -580,13 +581,13 @@ def import_grammar(grammar_path, base_paths=[]):
         for import_path in import_paths:
             with suppress(IOError):
                 joined_path = os.path.join(import_path, grammar_path)
-                with open(joined_path) as f:
+                with open(joined_path, encoding='utf8') as f:
                     text = f.read()
                 grammar = load_grammar(text, joined_path)
                 _imported_grammars[grammar_path] = grammar
                 break
         else:
-            open(grammar_path)
+            open(grammar_path, encoding='utf8')
             assert False
 
     return _imported_grammars[grammar_path]
diff --git a/tests/grammars/test_unicode.lark b/tests/grammars/test_unicode.lark
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9731d0a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/grammars/test_unicode.lark
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+UNICODE : /[a-zØ-öø-ÿ]/
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/test_parser.py b/tests/test_parser.py
index caee80e..3004041 100644
--- a/tests/test_parser.py
+++ b/tests/test_parser.py
@@ -1126,6 +1126,12 @@ def _make_parser_test(LEXER, PARSER):
             self.assertEqual(x.children, ['12', 'lions'])
 
 
+        def test_relative_import_unicode(self):
+            l = _Lark_open('test_relative_import_unicode.lark', rel_to=__file__)
+            x = l.parse(u'Ø')
+            self.assertEqual(x.children, [u'Ø'])
+
+
         def test_relative_import_rename(self):
             l = _Lark_open('test_relative_import_rename.lark', rel_to=__file__)
             x = l.parse('12 lions')
diff --git a/tests/test_relative_import_unicode.lark b/tests/test_relative_import_unicode.lark
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8010537
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_relative_import_unicode.lark
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+start: UNICODE
+
+%import .grammars.test_unicode.UNICODE
\ No newline at end of file