diff --git a/vm/src/sysmodule.rs b/vm/src/sysmodule.rs
index 59b028d47..086eb6c1a 100644
--- a/vm/src/sysmodule.rs
+++ b/vm/src/sysmodule.rs
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ impl SysFlags {
             hash_randomization: settings.hash_seed.is_none() as u8,
             isolated: settings.isolated as u8,
             dev_mode: settings.dev_mode,
-            utf8_mode: 0,
+            utf8_mode: 1,
         }
     }