diff --git a/anki/__init__.py b/anki/__init__.py
index b7bbb626a..91e4ec504 100644
--- a/anki/__init__.py
+++ b/anki/__init__.py
@@ -7,6 +7,9 @@ import sys
 if sys.version_info[0] < 3 or sys.version_info[1] < 6:
     raise Exception("Anki requires Python 3.6+")
 
+if sys.getfilesystemencoding().lower() in ("ascii", "ansi_x3.4-1968"):
+    raise Exception("Anki requires a UTF-8 locale.")
+
 version="2.1.0beta15" # build scripts grep this line, so preserve formatting
 from anki.storage import Collection
 __all__ = ["Collection"]