diff --git a/lemur/plugins/lemur_email/plugin.py b/lemur/plugins/lemur_email/plugin.py
index ab27d45d..e1eb90bc 100644
--- a/lemur/plugins/lemur_email/plugin.py
+++ b/lemur/plugins/lemur_email/plugin.py
@@ -63,12 +63,12 @@ def send_via_ses(subject, body, targets):
         Message={
             'Subject': {
                 'Data': subject,
-                'Charset': 'string'
+                'Charset': 'UTF-8'
             },
             'Body': {
                 'Html': {
                     'Data': body,
-                    'Charset': 'string'
+                    'Charset': 'UTF-8'
                 }
             }
         }