diff --git a/github_release.py b/github_release.py
index 102a7a9..6ed05f7 100755
--- a/github_release.py
+++ b/github_release.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python2.7
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
 from __future__ import print_function
 
@@ -370,7 +371,7 @@ def patch_release(repo_name, current_tag_name, **values):
         response = _request(
             'PATCH', url,
             data=json.dumps(data),
-            headers={'Content-Type': 'application/json'})
+            headers={'Content-Type': 'application/json; charset=utf-8'})
         response.raise_for_status()
 
     # In case a new tag name was provided, remove the old one.
@@ -456,7 +457,7 @@ def gh_release_create(repo_name, tag_name, asset_pattern=None, name=None,
         response = _request(
               'POST', GITHUB_API + '/repos/{0}/releases'.format(repo_name),
               data=json.dumps(data),
-              headers={'Content-Type': 'application/json'})
+              headers={'Content-Type': 'application/json; charset=utf-8'})
         response.raise_for_status()
         print_release_info(response.json(),
                            title="created '%s' release" % tag_name)
@@ -983,7 +984,7 @@ def gh_ref_create(repo_name, reference, sha):
     response = _request(
           'POST', GITHUB_API + '/repos/{0}/git/refs'.format(repo_name),
           data=json.dumps(data),
-          headers={'Content-Type': 'application/json'})
+          headers={'Content-Type': 'application/json; charset=utf-8'})
     response.raise_for_status()
     print_ref_info(response.json())
 
diff --git a/tests/__init__.py b/tests/__init__.py
index af88266..72fe91d 100644
--- a/tests/__init__.py
+++ b/tests/__init__.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
 import datetime as dt
 import errno
@@ -148,8 +149,11 @@ def run(*popenargs, **kwargs):
 #
 
 def read_version_file():
-    with open("VERSION") as content:
-        return content.readline().strip()
+    try:
+        with open("VERSION") as content:
+            return content.readline().strip()
+    except IOError:
+        return None
 
 
 #
@@ -258,6 +262,8 @@ def do_commit(version=None, branch=None, release_tag=None, push=False):
     commit_date = generate_commit_date()
     if version is None:
         version = read_version_file()
+        if version is None:
+            version = "0.0.0"
     msg = "Update to %s.dev%s" % (version, commit_date.strftime("%Y%m%d"))
     if release_tag is not None:
         msg = "%s %s" % (PROJECT_NAME, release_tag)
diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index e1abe9a..d93d8b8 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
 import os
 
diff --git a/tests/test_cli.py b/tests/test_cli.py
index 4c04304..ca59d76 100644
--- a/tests/test_cli.py
+++ b/tests/test_cli.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
 import pytest
 
@@ -50,7 +51,7 @@
     ([], "release", "edit", ["1.0.0", "--tag-name", "new_tag",
                                       "--target-commitish", "1234567",
                                       "--name", "new_name",
-                                      "--body", "new_body"]),
+                                      "--body", u"new_body with utf-8 char …"]),
     ([], "release", "delete", ["1.0.0"]),
     ([], "release", "delete", ["*a", "--keep-pattern", "1*"]),
     ([], "release", "publish", ["1.0.0"]),
diff --git a/tests/test_distribution.py b/tests/test_distribution.py
index b7ab729..d2f82be 100644
--- a/tests/test_distribution.py
+++ b/tests/test_distribution.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
 import pytest
 
diff --git a/tests/test_integration_asset.py b/tests/test_integration_asset.py
index 6e205aa..9f5a894 100644
--- a/tests/test_integration_asset.py
+++ b/tests/test_integration_asset.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
 from . import (
     check_releases,
diff --git a/tests/test_integration_commit.py b/tests/test_integration_commit.py
index 2b86984..d78e82c 100644
--- a/tests/test_integration_commit.py
+++ b/tests/test_integration_commit.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
 from . import (
     do_commit,
diff --git a/tests/test_integration_ref.py b/tests/test_integration_ref.py
index 6f8f7c6..eb44b22 100644
--- a/tests/test_integration_ref.py
+++ b/tests/test_integration_ref.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
 from . import (
     do_commit,
diff --git a/tests/test_integration_release_create.py b/tests/test_integration_release_create.py
index 4760fcb..d298948 100644
--- a/tests/test_integration_release_create.py
+++ b/tests/test_integration_release_create.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
 from . import (
     check_releases,
diff --git a/tests/test_integration_release_delete.py b/tests/test_integration_release_delete.py
index b433fdd..0a419f1 100644
--- a/tests/test_integration_release_delete.py
+++ b/tests/test_integration_release_delete.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
 from . import (
     check_releases,
diff --git a/tests/test_integration_release_edit.py b/tests/test_integration_release_edit.py
index bdf5d97..f05c0fb 100644
--- a/tests/test_integration_release_edit.py
+++ b/tests/test_integration_release_edit.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
 import pytest
 
@@ -137,7 +138,7 @@ def test_edit_name_and_body(release_type):
     # Edit release
     ghr.gh_release_edit(
         REPO_NAME, "0.1.0",
-        name="name-edited", body="body-edited"
+        name="name-edited", body=u"body-edited with utf-8 char …"
     )
 
     assert (check_releases([
@@ -145,7 +146,7 @@ def test_edit_name_and_body(release_type):
          "draft": params["draft"],
          "prerelease": params["prerelease"],
          "name": "name-edited",
-         "body": "body-edited"},
+         "body": u"body-edited with utf-8 char …"},
     ]))