diff --git a/plugins/restapi/includes/pdo.php b/plugins/restapi/includes/pdo.php
index 3822f83..32fea8f 100644
--- a/plugins/restapi/includes/pdo.php
+++ b/plugins/restapi/includes/pdo.php
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ public static function getConnection()
         $dbuser = $GLOBALS['database_user'];
         $dbpass = $GLOBALS['database_password'];
         $dbname = $GLOBALS['database_name'];
-        $dbh = new \PDO("mysql:host=$dbhost;dbname=$dbname;charset=UTF8;", $dbuser, $dbpass, array(PDO::MYSQL_ATTR_INIT_COMMAND => "SET NAMES 'utf8';"));
+        $dbh = new \PDO("mysql:host=$dbhost;dbname=$dbname;charset=UTF8MB4;", $dbuser, $dbpass, array(PDO::MYSQL_ATTR_INIT_COMMAND => "SET NAMES 'utf8mb4';"));
         $dbh->setAttribute(\PDO::ATTR_ERRMODE, \PDO::ERRMODE_EXCEPTION);
 
         return $dbh;