diff --git a/generate-release-cycle.py b/generate-release-cycle.py
index 16dd23b8d7..959b6ba2ba 100644
--- a/generate-release-cycle.py
+++ b/generate-release-cycle.py
@@ -74,8 +74,8 @@ def save_csv(self) -> None:
         now_str = str(dt.datetime.utcnow())
 
         with (
-            open("include/branches.csv", "w", newline="") as file_branches,
-            open("include/end-of-life.csv", "w", newline="") as file_eol,
+            open("include/branches.csv", "w", encoding="UTF-8", newline="") as file_branches,
+            open("include/end-of-life.csv", "w", encoding="UTF-8", newline="") as file_eol,
         ):
             csv_branches = csv.writer(file_branches, quoting=csv.QUOTE_MINIMAL)
             csv_eol = csv.writer(file_eol, quoting=csv.QUOTE_MINIMAL)
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ def save_mermaid(self) -> None:
             )
             out.append(v)
 
-        with open("include/release-cycle.mmd", "w") as f:
+        with open("include/release-cycle.mmd", "w", encoding="UTF-8", newline="\n") as f:
             f.writelines(out)