--- __init__.py	2010-12-17 21:44:58.000000000 -0600
+++ __init__new.py	2011-03-17 23:32:46.667324900 -0500
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
 To use, simply 'import logging' and log away!
 """
 
-import sys, os, time, io, traceback, warnings, weakref
+import sys, os, time, io, traceback, warnings, weakref, locale
 from string import Template
 
 __all__ = ['BASIC_FORMAT', 'BufferingFormatter', 'CRITICAL', 'DEBUG', 'ERROR',
@@ -1665,7 +1665,8 @@
             filename = kwargs.get("filename")
             if filename:
                 mode = kwargs.get("filemode", 'a')
-                hdlr = FileHandler(filename, mode)
+                encoding = kwargs.get("encoding", locale.getpreferredencoding())
+                hdlr = FileHandler(filename, mode, encoding)
             else:
                 stream = kwargs.get("stream")
                 hdlr = StreamHandler(stream)